Grengine Joins NATO’s Accelerator to Transform Energy Security

Edmonton-based Grengine has been selected for NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) 2026 Challenge Programme. This recognition places the clean energy company among a cohort of 150 innovators chosen across ten challenge areas, including Energy and Power. Grengine’s involvement aims to advance cyber-secure energy solutions that address complex defence and security challenges.

Opportunity for Canadian Innovation

As part of NATO’s largest cohort to date, Grengine will gain access to substantial resources, including contractual funding and a network of over 200 test centres across NATO nations beginning in January 2026. Each selected company will receive initial grant funding to develop solutions that can benefit both defence and civilian markets. Grengine plans to further enhance its modular, plug-and-play battery energy storage systems, which are designed to replace diesel generation and support renewable energy integration.

Connie Stacey, founder and CEO of Grengine, expressed her excitement over the selection, stating, “Being selected for DIANA — the world’s most competitive deep-tech accelerator — is an incredible honour. This recognition from NATO validates the strategic importance of cyber-secure, resilient energy systems and affirms the global relevance of what we’re building at Grengine.”

Linking Energy Innovation with Global Resilience

The announcement follows a recent federal investment of $6.7 million aimed at boosting business growth in Edmonton through PrairiesCan’s Business Scale-up and Productivity program. Grengine’s participation in DIANA signifies a pivotal move towards strengthening energy systems that are not only sustainable but also secure, addressing the growing intersection of clean energy and national security.

James Appathurai, Interim Managing Director of NATO DIANA, emphasized the accelerator’s mission to transform innovation into actionable solutions. “DIANA’s mission is to find the most innovative companies, help them advance their solutions and grow their business, and get the technologies we need into the hands of NATO operators,” he stated. This initiative highlights the urgency of developing technologies to tackle emerging threats.

Grengine’s alignment with DIANA’s Energy and Power challenge area illustrates how clean-energy innovation is increasingly intertwined with global security needs. Systems capable of providing reliable energy during crises can also support military operations in challenging environments.

As an organization that previously operated under the name Growing Greener Innovations, Grengine has long viewed energy access as both a social and technical issue. Its mission to eradicate energy poverty with ethical, sustainable power solutions now resonates with NATO’s objectives to bolster resilience across member states. The opportunity to engage with military and commercial experts through DIANA will enhance Grengine’s ability to validate and test its innovations.

Shaping the Future of Energy and Security

The inclusion of a Canadian company like Grengine in NATO’s largest deep-tech accelerator cohort marks a significant shift in how innovation is perceived. Clean-energy technologies are no longer solely aimed at achieving climate goals; they are increasingly recognized as integral to national security strategies. This evolution reflects a growing understanding that energy resilience is a vital component of national defense.

As Canada continues to position itself as a leader in clean technology, the collaboration between civilian innovators and defense sectors will be crucial. Ensuring that breakthroughs in energy systems translate into practical applications is essential for maintaining global competitiveness. Grengine’s journey through DIANA represents a critical step towards achieving this goal.

In summary, the call for energy resilience as a security priority underscores the need for dual-use innovations that blur the lines between clean technology and defense. Canada’s ability to connect its innovators with emerging systems of collaboration will play a significant role in shaping the future of energy security.