In this edition, we spotlight the leaders, technologies and strategic shifts redefining the future of defence and resilience. We also explore how deep tech - from advanced materials and AI to quantum computing and biotech, is driving transformative innovation across industries far beyond the battlefield.

• Top news: Last chance to apply to NATO DIANA and launch of UKDI

• Great ecosystems aren’t built - they are cultivated: James Murray, Janus Accelerator Manager

• Quantum moves centre stage in UK Industrial Strategy

• Janus Strategic Edge Summit: Dual-use innovation showcase

• In other news: The UK’s industrial strategy and investment to drive innovation across the UK’s fastest-growing sectors

Top News:

The UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) was launched by the Ministry of Defence leverage cutting-edge technology for the UK Armed Forces, backed by a ringfenced annual budget of at least £400 million.

Last chance to apply to NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) 2026 challenge call highlights 10 areas to accelerate dual-use technology breakthroughs. Final chance to apply, deadline is 11 July.

Janus Accelerator has been selected as an activated site for NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) 2026 programme, a major recognition of the UK’s leadership in defence innovation.

Janus is pleased to welcome James Murray from the SETsquared Partnership, as Accelerator Manager for the Janus consortium.  

With over 15 years of experience across entrepreneurship education, venture capital and ecosystem development, James brings a well-rounded perspective and deep expertise to the role. 

James has a track record of building impactful innovation programmes, from leading Europe’s largest student run venture fund to launching a university embedded venture studio.  

At Janus, James is helping shape a startup culture that values not only speed but also relevance, rigour and purpose. “It’s a meaningful opportunity to support technologies with the potential to save lives”.

We spoke to James about his journey into and ambitious for Janus.

The UK government has announced £670 million in funding to accelerate the application of quantum computing, ensuring the UK is in pole position to harness the transformative potential of this technology. As part of this, £500 million will be invested over the next four years to launch Quantum Mission One, beginning in 2026 and covering the next Spending Review period. 

This funding makes the National Quantum Computing Centre one of the first organisations to receive a 10-year funding settlement, offering long-term certainty to researchers and marking Britain as a global destination for quantum innovation. 

The UK aims to develop quantum computers capable of outperforming conventional supercomputers by 2035, potentially unlocking new drugs for incurable diseases and breakthroughs in carbon capture technology. These efforts are directly aligned with the UK’s broader missions: building an NHS fit for the future and becoming a clean energy superpower. 

This investment complements the UK’s new Industrial Strategy, published in June, which identified quantum as one of six frontier technologies. Alongside this, the Digital and Technology Sector Plan includes a £54 million package to support top tech talent and help science and innovation leaders set up and scale up in the UK. 

The Janus summit brought together visionary leaders, pioneering startups and strategic investors to explore how emerging technologies are transforming security, resilience and global collaboration. The day was divided into two powerful sessions, each spotlighting innovation at the heart of defence and dual-use technology.  

We heard insights from the warfighters, innovators, incubators, investors and catalysts:

• Defence tech is a proven engine of innovation, from battlefield to everyday tech 

• 6% of European VC now flows into Defence Security & Resilience (DSR) tripling in the last decade 

• Europe’s DSR VC hit an all time high in 2024, growing 5x in 5 years 

• 95% of DSR investments are in deep tech; 30% of all deep tech is DSR related 

• UK shifts to a “war footing”: calls for a clear industrial strategy and better SME support 

• Emphasis on deployable tech: survivable, scalable, and mission-ready 

• Urgent need for tech adoption: align government, science & industry for operational impact 

1. NATO's Rapid Adoption Action Plan was endorsed by Allied Leaders at the NATO Summit to get cutting-edge tech into the hands of armed forces within a maximum of 24 months 

2. £22.5 billion annually for R&D by 2030 pledged by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of a transformative £86 billion investment to drive innovation across the UK’s fastest-growing sectors  

3. New Cyber Growth Action Plan: £16M to supercharge UK Cyber Sector 

4. Quantum Sensor Breakthrough: World Record sensitivity boosts defence applications 

5. UK- Level Hackathon: advances drone and defence tech prototypes 

6. European Innovation Council launch pre-accelerator call to support early-stage deep tech startups in emerging innovation ecosystems aimed at underrepresented regions with up to €500,000 in funding and tailored support. Apply by 18 November 2025 

7. The UK’s modern Industrial Strategy: names quantum a frontier technology, reinforcing national ambitions to lead in defence and deep tech innovation 

8. The Digital and Technologies sector plan: outlines a bold roadmap to unlock future growth in deep tech, AI, Quantum and defence 

IoT Tribe’s community is a thriving ecosystem to connect with leaders across deep tech, engage with defence stakeholders and accelerate your dual-use innovations.