CPV 734 – R&D Services for Security and Defence Materials

What does CPV 734 cover?

CPV group 734 covers research and development services for security and defence materials. This includes R&D projects for defence equipment, weapons technology, security systems and related materials and technologies. Public contracting authorities – particularly defence ministries and their procurement agencies – use this code for the award of defence research contracts.

Defence research is a highly specialised and regulated procurement field. Contracts under CPV 734 are subject to specific security requirements, confidentiality clauses and in many cases special procurement regulations for defence and security contracting. NATO research cooperation and transatlantic defence projects are an important framework for defence research across EU member states.

In addition to classical weapons research, cross-cutting technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cybersecurity and unmanned systems are gaining increasing importance in defence research. Dual-use technologies – research findings with both civilian and military applications – are a characteristic feature of this procurement field.

Further information on the CPV system is available from the European Commission (SIMAP) and from Regulation (EC) No 213/2008 on the revision of the CPV.

Typical Services in CPV 734

Examples of Tenders with CPV 734

• R&D on Ballistic Protection Materials: A defence procurement agency procures an R&D project to develop novel ballistic protection materials with an improved protection-to-weight ratio for infantry body armour, including materials research, testing and prototype evaluation.
• Research Project on Military AI Applications: A defence ministry procures a research project to develop AI-supported decision assistance systems for tactical operational planning, with particular focus on reliability and explainable AI.
• Cyber Defence Research: A cyber and information command procures an R&D project to develop new detection methods for Advanced Persistent Threats in military network infrastructures.

Current unclassified tenders with CPV 734 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms such as where not treated as confidential for security reasons.

Who is CPV 734 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

Defence ministries, defence procurement agencies, federal armed forces equipment and information technology offices, and comparable bodies in other NATO countries are the contracting authorities under CPV 734. Civilian security authorities may also award security-related R&D contracts under this code.

Companies and Bidders

Defence companies, technology groups with defence divisions, specialist research firms and universities with a security research focus are the relevant bidders. Security clearances, export control licences, NATO security agreements and specific technical capabilities are typical requirements. Further information is available from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

How does Bond help with CPV 734?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 734)

With tender.match, defence research companies automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 734 directly in their dashboard. BOND indexes tenders from over 1,000 procurement portals in the EU – from TED to national platforms and regional contracting authorities. Instead of manually searching dozens of portals every day, matching defence research contracts are filtered and delivered by industry, competency, region, and company profile. An automated gap analysis immediately shows where the company meets the requirements and where gaps exist. This ensures companies never miss a deadline and can focus on preparing their bids.

Company Match – Find the Right Partners and Suppliers (CPV 734)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for defence research projects, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for larger defence research projects that a single company cannot handle alone, company.match automatically identifies suitable partners for research consortia and partial services – increasing the chances of winning the contract.

Frequently Asked Questions about CPV 734

What does the CPV code 73400000 mean?

The CPV code 73400000 designates R&D services for security and defence materials in the European classification system. It is used for R&D contracts in the defence and security field.

How do I find tenders with CPV 734?

Non-classified tenders with CPV 734 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) for EU-wide procedures. Classified awards are processed through separate security procurement channels.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 734?

Bidders are generally required to provide security clearances, export control licences, relevant technical capabilities and references from comparable defence research assignments. Details are governed by the VgV and the applicable defence procurement regulations, as well as the UVgO for below-threshold awards.