Defence Innovation Network Finland (DEFINE)

What Defence Innovation Network Finland (DEFINE) does

Defence Innovation Network Finland (DEFINE) is a municipal defence and security innovation network launched in 2023 and coordinated by the City of Riihimäki. It operates as a coordinating platform rather than a commercial product company, bringing together the Finnish Defence Forces, defence primes (Sako, Millog, Patria), research institutes (VTT), investor networks (FiBAN, Tesi, Redstone VC), and municipalities to accelerate defence and dual-use technology startups. Its core offering is the DEFINE Accelerator — a 3-month program that is free of charge, takes no equity, and runs four batches per year with 12 startups per cohort and over 100 applicants per cycle. The program is operated by Redstone VC and grants participants access to mentors, defence-sector stakeholders, and the DEFINE Innovation Hub in Riihimäki, which provides coworking space along with planned product-development infrastructure including 3D additive manufacturing and AI/GPU capabilities.

The network's underlying technology services include the DEFINE Innovation Hub (a physical facility at Veturitallit, Riihimäki), the Borderland Europe cross-border testing corridor (Joensuu, Turku, Riihimäki), and integration with the NATO Innovation Range (NIR) and NATO DIANA accelerator network. Complementary programmes include hackathons, the Pitch Finland DefSec startup competition (€100,000 investment prize), the BeScaled EU Interreg Central Baltic project (€1.54M budget), Robotics Battle Tournaments, and MaanpuolustusAreena. The network operates across focus areas including AI, autonomous systems, 5G/6G communications, border security, and multi-sensor situational awareness.

DEFINE's business model is grant-funded rather than revenue-generating. Funding sources include the City of Riihimäki (founding and ongoing coordination), Sitra (national expansion to five cities and two universities from January 2026), the EU Interreg Central Baltic Programme (BeScaled project, May 2025–April 2028), and the EU/Hämä Regional Council (accelerator program). DEFINE captures no equity and charges no fees; it monetises indirectly through ecosystem development, startup visibility, and the reputational and economic returns flowing back to coordinating municipalities and partners. The network is geographically constrained to applicants from NATO countries and serves startups, SMEs, research institutions, and government/defence agencies as its primary user segments.

Name

Defence Innovation Network Finland (DEFINE)

Legal name

Defence Innovation Network Finland

Website

https://definefinland.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DEFINE is a Finnish municipal defence and security innovation network coordinated by the City of Riihimäki, running a free 3-month accelerator, a physical innovation hub, and NATO-aligned testing programmes for defence and dual-use startups from NATO countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Innovation Accelerator Services

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

Keywords

• Defense innovation network
• Startup accelerator program
• Dual-use technology
• Defense technology testing
• Border security innovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Riihimäki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Sitra Funding: The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra provides funding to support the expansion of DEFINE to a national network covering five cities and two universities of applied sciences. Sitra's Growth from Critical Technologies project aims to strengthen technology sector foresight and innovation capability.
2. EU Funding (Connect2Scale, Interreg Central Baltic): DEFINE receives EU funding through programs like Connect2Scale and the Interreg Central Baltic Programme. The BeScaled project has a total budget of €1,543,057 with €218,802 contributed by the City of Riihimäki.
3. Accelerator Program (Free of Charge): The DEFINE Accelerator program is free of charge with no equity taken. Participants cover their own travel and direct costs. Revenue is not generated directly but through ecosystem development and network effects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DEFINE operates a 3-month free startup accelerator program (no equity taken) focused on scaling defence, security, and dual-use innovations, supported by a physical Innovation Hub in Riihimäki with coworking space and product development infrastructure (3D additive manufacturing, AI/GPU). The network connects startups with the Finnish Defence Forces, leading defence companies (Sako, Millog, Patria), research institutes (VTT), and NATO ecosystems, providing testing environments, mentorship, and pathways to NATO DIANA and the NATO Innovation Fund.

Product overview

DEFINE (Defence Innovation Network Finland) is a defence and security innovation ecosystem and operating model developed by the City of Riihimäki. It functions as a network-plus-program structure rather than a single product, comprising: the DEFINE Accelerator (3-month startup accelerator), DEFINE Innovation Hub (physical facility with coworking space and development infrastructure), and the DEFINE Network (nationwide ecosystem spanning six cities and two universities of applied sciences). Additional programs include hackathons, pitch competitions, NATO Innovation Range testing events, and the BeScaled Baltic expansion project. The ecosystem is designed to accelerate defence and dual-use technology innovation by connecting startups, the Finnish Defence Forces, research institutes, and industry partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DEFINE Accelerator A 3-month startup accelerator program focused on scaling defence, security, and dual-use innovations. Coordinated by the City of Riihimäki, it brings together Finnish Defence Forces, leading companies, research institutes, and startups to develop technologies addressing both military and commercial market needs. Free of charge with no equity taken.
• DEFINE Innovation Hub Physical innovation hub located in Riihimäki providing facilities, coworking space, and product development infrastructure (3D additive manufacturing, AI/GPU) for defence-tech startups and companies.
• DEFINE Hackathon 48-hour hackathon events focused on dual-use technologies applicable in both civil and defence contexts, with themes including intelligent firepower, unmanned aerial systems, and AI for threat detection.
• BeScaled Project EU Interreg Central Baltic Programme project supporting 25 startups to pivot into the defence and security sector, providing value proposition development, company selection, roadmap creation, scale-up support, and access to European defence innovation ecosystems.
• Borderland Europe Testing Environment North European border security innovation and testing corridor that is part of NATO Innovation Range (NIR), spanning from Joensuu eastern border environments to Turku archipelago maritime surveillance and Riihimäki security technology development.
• NATO Innovation Range Finland 2026 NATO-coordinated innovation and testing framework bringing together 30 companies and key stakeholders to accelerate, test, and demonstrate advanced defence and security technologies in realistic operational environments.
• MaanpuolustusAreena Nationally and internationally recognized defence exhibition and seminar series held in Riihimäki featuring key defence stakeholders, decision-makers, workshops, and pitch competitions.
• Robotics Battle Tournament Combat robotics tournament and hackathon event organized in collaboration with Robosota Ry, Häme University of Applied Sciences, and DEFINE, aimed at promoting robotics education and innovation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ applicants for Spring 2025 accelerator batch
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Digital Defence Ecosystem (DDE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Strategic partnership launched June 2025 to strengthen Finland's defence innovation capabilities, bridging regional strengths, and accelerating the dual-use ecosystem nationally and internationally.
• City of TampereminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Strategic partnership signed June 2025 to collaborate on defence and dual-use innovation. Tampere brings additional regional strength to the national ecosystem.
• BeScaled Project PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Interreg Central Baltic project with South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk), Tallinn University, and Tartu Science Park. Budget €1,543,057 over 3 years (May 2025 - April 2028). Aims to help 25 startups pivot into defence sector.
• Redstone VCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2024Redstone VC, based in Berlin with operations in Helsinki and Zürich, manages the 3-month DEFINE Accelerator program. Provides venture capital expertise and mentorship connections for defence and dual-use startups.
• FiBAN (Finnish Business Angels Network)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFiBAN organizes Pitch Finland DefSec startup competition in collaboration with DEFINE, bringing together angel and venture capital investors. Hosts Northern Europe's largest defence pitch events.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVTT supports Finnish startups and SMEs in participating in NATO DIANA challenges and accelerator programs. Organized events for companies aspiring to DIANA accelerator.
• NATO Innovation Range (NIR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDEFINE is part of NATO Innovation Range network, a NATO-developed innovation and testing framework that accelerates development and deployment of defence and security technologies. Borderland Europe test environment joined NIR in 2026.
• NATO DIANAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic. DEFINE collaborates with NATO DIANA for accelerator programs and test centre network. University of Oulu hosts NATO DIANA 6G Test Centre.
• Business FinlandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports Finnish companies including defence and security startups with funding and internationalization services. Co-organizer of Pitch Finland DefSec event.
• Metropolia AmmattikorkeakouluminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of national DEFINE network. Focuses on autonomous solutions and physical AI for defence sector, opening doors for smart transport and logistics solutions.
• Hämeen ammattikorkeakoulu (HAMK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of national DEFINE network. Develops local AI solutions and training for defence sector needs. Coordinator of BeScaled project.
• Business JoensuuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Borderland Europe partnership. Focuses on digital border security. Provides testing environment for border security technologies.
• Business TurkuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Borderland Europe partnership. Focuses on maritime cluster and port operations for sea border surveillance.
• Finnish Defence ForcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner for innovation collaboration. Finnish Defence Research Agency, Finnish Defence Forces C5 Agency, and Electronic Warfare Centre located in Riihimäki area.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Saab: Swedish defence and security company running its own innovation and venture activities. Broad incumbent that competes for Nordic defence-tech talent and partners in the same Finnish/Northern European ecosystem as DEFINE.
• Anduril: US defence-tech company operating Anduril Foundry, an accelerator-style program for defence startups. Direct upstream competitor for high-quality founders, with significantly larger capital pools and direct US defence procurement access.

Direct peers

• DASA (UK Defence and Security Accelerator): UK government defence and security innovation accelerator funding novel technologies into defence and security. Functionally the closest UK analogue to DEFINE: government-funded, defence-focused, accelerator-style funding for startups and academia.
• AFWERX: US Air Force innovation arm running accelerators, challenges, and Spark programs to fast-track defence tech. Direct peer as a government-affiliated defence accelerator; competes for similar dual-use founder pools across NATO countries.
• DIU (US Defense Innovation Unit): US Department of Defense organisation accelerating commercial technology into military use. Direct peer in mission and structure (government entity, defence-tech focus, bridging startups to defence end-users), though operating at much larger scale and budget.
• NATO DIANA: NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic. Directly comparable to DEFINE as a defence-focused accelerator, and an explicit partner (DEFINE collaborates with DIANA, and University of Oulu hosts a NATO DIANA 6G Test Centre). The primary upstream pathway for DEFINE graduates.
• Techstars Defense Accelerator: Techstars-operated defence-focused accelerator (notably the Techstars Defense powered by JBS program). Private-sector analogue to DEFINE's accelerator: comparable cohort size, mentorship model, and demo day structure, though equity-taking.

Emerging players

• Helsing: UK/German-based AI defence-tech startup building AI-enabled capabilities for NATO-aligned governments. Emerging player whose target customer base (NATO defence ministries) and geography overlap directly with DEFINE-supported startups.
• MassChallenge: Global non-equity accelerator with defence and security programmes. Closest private-sector parallel to DEFINE's no-equity model; serves as a comparable proof point that a free accelerator model can operate at scale.

Others

• NATO Innovation Fund: NATO's multi-billion venture fund (Tesi has committed €35M) investing directly into defence and dual-use deep-tech. Not an accelerator but a closely related capital provider that DEFINE's ecosystem feeds into and competes for founders against.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/definefinland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/defence-innovation-network-finland-define

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Defence Innovation Network Finland (DEFINE)