On Wednesday (4 November 2026), leaders of the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) and representatives from the private sector participated in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council. The Council discussed how to further strengthen the defence and security innovation ecosystem.
The NIF is the world’s first multi-sovereign venture capital fund, backed by 24 Allies with more than 1 billion euros. It helps turn innovative solutions into scaled Allied capability, from seabed to space. The NIF invests in deep tech start-ups and other funds addressing critical defence, security and resilience needs. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said our innovation ecosystems help give the Alliance its technological edge and that the NIF connects Allied ambition with entrepreneurial talent, new technologies and capital.
The Chair of the Board of the NIF, Dame Fiona Murray, and the NIF’s President, Ari Jonsson, briefed Allies on the work of the Fund. From the private sector, the CEO of ISAR Aerospace, Daniel Metzler, and the co-founder of Expeditions Fund, Mikolaj Firlej, shared their insights on innovation and investment.