The NATO Innovation Range Capability Demonstrator testing event will be held in Oulu, Finland, on 28–29 October 2026. The event will bring together developers of defence and security technology, national stakeholders and research organisations, NATO, and international representatives from the sector.
The event is an invitation-only gathering for a select group of participants. It is not open to the general public. The Defence Administration, BusinessOulu, the Digital Defence Ecosystem (DDE), and DEFINE are responsible for the practical arrangements for the event, in collaboration with NATO.
The NATO Innovation Range (NIR) is a NATO-led collaborative framework aimed at accelerating the development, testing, and deployment of technologies critical to defence and security. At NIR testing events, new technologies and solutions can be trialled in real-world operational environments and their functionality and interoperability assessed as part of broader systems and operational frameworks. The Ministry of Defence acts as the national authority responsible for the NATO Innovation Range Future Connectivity (NIR FC) framework.
Future Connectivity combines next-generation communication technologies and autonomous systems
The NIR FC framework provides an opportunity to bring together national testing and development environments, technological expertise, and other stakeholders whose innovations can be used to create new capabilities for defence and security authorities.
The NIR FC initiative examines the interoperability of future communication technologies and autonomous systems. The theme covers, amongst other things, 5G and 6G technologies, as well as other advanced data transmission and connectivity solutions.
– Oulu’s strong technological expertise, combined with a large-scale testing environment such as OuluZone, provides an excellent setting for developing and demonstrating solutions related to the Future Connectivity theme. Through international cooperation such as NIR, we can also demonstrate Finland’s national testing and development capabilities and how they can be utilised as part of broader NATO cooperation. These opportunities are particularly important for advancing technology development, but also from the perspective of creating international cooperation opportunities for Finnish defence and security technology, says Jussi Leponiemi, Account Manager at BusinessOulu.
Oulu’s versatile technology testing environment enables the NATO Innovation Range Capability Demonstrator event
Oulu’s internationally renowned technology ecosystem is built around concepts like wireless communications, digital technologies, and advanced research. The expertise covers, for example, 5G and 6G technologies, sensor technology, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, embedded technologies, edge computing, and cyber security.
– The event is being held in Oulu at the OuluZone testing environment, where technologies can be tested in real-world and changing conditions. Together with various stakeholders, we are developing the area into a leading development environment in Finland to support companies in bringing dual-use and DefenceTech solutions to market,” says Heikki Huhmo, Project Manager at BusinessOulu.
The purpose of the Capability Demonstrator event is to present the NATO Innovation Range Future Connectivity (NIR FC) initiative established upon a joint Finnish and Swedish initiative, as well as national testing, evaluation, validation, and verification capabilities (TEVV), to Finnish stakeholders and experts from NATO and allied nations. The TEVV capabilities and technologies to be showcased include, amongst other things, drone countermeasures and sensor fusion, AI-based command and control and situational awareness, resilient communications (5G/6G), and the integration of unmanned systems. The event will also highlight Finland’s national testing and development capabilities more broadly.
The Nato Innovation Range Capability Demonstrator event’s arrangements for OuluZone will affect normal use of the area. OuluZone is reserved for event arrangements from 22 to 29 October, and the area will be closed to other use from 27 to 29 October. The closure of the area is necessary to ensure the smooth running of the event, the safety of participants, and the practical arrangements required for the event. The area will reopen for normal use on 30 October 2026.