Leveraging Space Capabilities for UK & NATO Defence Innovation

As space rapidly evolves into a critical domain for security, communications, and resilience, the demand for breakthrough technologies that can operate across both civil and defence environments has never been greater. To support this momentum, Janus, the UK accelerator for NATO DIANA, together with UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), will deliver a high impact, one hour session showcasing the growing strategic alignment between space technologies, defence priorities, and dual use innovation across the UK and NATO. This session will combine strategic insight, practical guidance, and live pitches to demonstrate how space technologies can progress from early stage concepts to deployable operational capabilities - and how innovators can engage directly with programmes such as NATO DIANA and UK defence innovation pathways. Takeaways - Highlight NATO DIANA opportunities for dual-use innovation in space technologies - Educate innovators and industry on how to engage with UK and NATO defence innovation pathways - Showcase real-world innovation through NATO DIANA 2026 company pitches About the Partners - Janus is the UK Accelerator for NATO DIANA and ecosystem for dual-use frontier technologies. Working in partnership with UK Defence Innovation, giving companies access to investors, government, defence supply chain and end-users to develop operational abilities for the UK and NATO Allies. - NATO DIANA finds and accelerates cutting-edge technologies to deliver battle-winning defence and security solutions for the Alliance, while fostering deep-tech innovation. As a cornerstone of NATO’s innovation and technology strategy, DIANA brings together world-class talent and the latest advancements to maintain the Alliance’s technological edge. Programme 12:20 - 12:25 - Welcome & Introduction - Dr Tanya Suarez, CEO of IoT Tribe & Janus Allies 12:25 - 12:55 - Panel & Q&A: Leveraging Space capabilities for UK Defence & NATO - - - - - Dr Tanya Suarez, CEO of IoT Tribe & Janus Allies - Fabrizio Berizzi, Challenge Manager NATO DIANA - Dr Michael O’Callaghan, Head of Geospatial and Future Programmes UK: Space Digital, Airbus defence and space - Anthony Baker, CEO: SatVu - Steven Thornber CBE, Director: In Lucem Consulting Ltd 12:55 - 13:15 - Pitches: NATO DIANA dual-use technology companies building solutions for resilient space operations and contested electromagnetic environments. NATO DIANA 2026 - - - - - Susan Skone, Managing Director, SDQ Solutions Canada - Future-proofing the next generation of global navigation (Canada) - Benjamin Azoulay, President and CEO, OledComm - Stealth in drone flight. Unjammable connectivity by light (France) - Martin Soltau, CEO, Space Solar - Assembling large modular space structures for next gen situational awareness, power and aperture (UK) - Kerri Mertz, Director of Business Development, Spaceflux Ltd - From awareness to anticipation: predictive AI for resilient space operations and strategic advantage (UK) Janus Alumni - - - - - James Snape, Founder, Aphelion Industries - A spacecraft armour system for ultra-resilient satellite platforms (UK) - David Blumstein, General Manager, Silicon Microgravity - Develops ultra-low drift, low-noise accelerometers and gyroscopes for high-precision inertial sensing (UK) 13:15 - 13:25 - Test & Validate: Advancing Space Defence Through NATO DIANA - - - - - Dave Barbour, National Physical Laboratory 13:25 - 13:30 - Closing Remarks