Finnish start-up SEATOM Technologies Oy has been selected for the NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) 2026 Challenge Programme Cohort.
SEATOM’s “solution”, described as “an affordable modular micro nuclear reactor system for marine and extreme environments”, was chosen under NATO DIANA’s Operations in Extreme Environments Challenge programme, “reflecting the company’s commitment to developing dual-use technologies for critical defence and security challenges especially in harsh environments like the Arctic”.
Over the next six months, SEATOM will participate in DIANA’s Core Programme, working with the DualTech Accelerator in Turin, Italy and engaging with DIANA’s extensive network of experts, mentors, and test centres across the Alliance. The programme provides access to world-class testing infrastructure, defence market expertise, and direct engagement with NATO end-users.
“This is the right time for nuclear, as national and international regulations are being reformed and public perception now favors maritime nuclear more than any other viable option out there”, said Roope Marttila, cofounder & co-CEO.
As part of the programme, SEATOM will receive an initial €100,000 in contractual funding, with potential access to additional funding for testing, evaluation, validation and verification (TEVV) activities. The company will also have opportunities to participate in operational experiments and exercises alongside Allied forces.
The DIANA Challenge Programme serves as a pathway for emerging technology innovators enter the defence and security sector across NATO’s 32 member nations. Through the programme, SEATOM says it will deepen its technological readiness and strengthen its defence and dual-use offering. The programme kicks off on 19 January 2026, with an International Demo Day in Paris in June 2026.
DIANA will bring defence personnel together with the Alliance’s best and brightest start-ups, scientific researchers, and technology companies to solve critical defence and security challenges. Innovators participating in DIANA’s programs will receive access to its network of dozens of accelerator sites and test centres across more than 20 Allies. NATO leaders agreed that DIANA would have a regional office in Europe and in North America. DIANA’s European regional office was selected from a joint Estonian-United Kingdom bid, and Canada is actively looking at hosting the North American regional office.
SEATOM Technologies describes itself as “a Finnish-American company leading the charge to bring nuclear propulsion to commercial shipping”. It is co-led by Roope Marttila, Consortium Lead for the government-backed R&D project N/S Finlandia; Reko-Antti Suojanen, former CEO of Aker Arctic, “a company known for its nuclear icebreaker designs”; and Professor Juhani Hyvärinen, former Chief Nuclear Officer of the Hanhikivi Nuclear Power Plant and a member of safety councils and committees of several other nuclear power plants.
Roope Marttila is listed on the University of Helsinki website’s Law Faculty as “an internationally recognised expert in Maritime Nuclear Regulation especially in the context of Nuclear-Powered Commercial Shipping”. At the University of Helsinki, his research focuses on “small modular reactor siting, national and international nuclear regulation reforms, and public perception of nuclear-powered ships and offshore applications”. He is a visiting researcher at the Energy Policy Research Group (EPRG) based at the Cambridge Judge Business School.
The company’s website says nothing more about the company and gives no details of the technology it is developing. “One size does not fit all. We’ll make sure to show all the options available to you. Our M-SMR system comes in different shapes and sizes,” it says. It advises: “Avoid the political risk and future-proof your fleet by learning more about leasing our OCEAN-SMR. We operate the reactor on your behalf while getting your margins 20% higher from DAY ONE. Furthermore, if you want to bring your ships to European ports and benefit from the Emission Trading System (ETS), SEATOM Technologies supports the maritime industry’s transition to Net Zero by facilitating the adoption of nuclear propulsion for ocean-faring vessels. We’ll take care of the reactor, crew, and all regulatory matters.”
SEATOM Technologies was one of 20 startups competing for a €1m prize at the recent Slush 2025 leading event for startups in Helsinki. It did not win.
