HUB for EU DEFENCE INNOVATION (HEDI): Technology watch, landscaping - Military Utility Assessment - Market consultation - Defence Innovation Training Courses

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has announced a call for tenders under the initiative "HUB for EU DEFENCE INNOVATION (HEDI)." This procurement opportunity, referenced as EDA/2025/OP/0006, focuses on enhancing defence innovation capabilities across the EU and has a total estimated value of €3,200,000. The submission method is electronic, and the deadline for applications is September 8, 2025, by 17:00 CET.

The tender is divided into four lots, each addressing different aspects of defence innovation:

1. **Lot 1: Technology Watch and Landscaping** with an estimated value of 800,000 EUR. This lot involves assessing global technological developments to identify emerging trends and dual-use innovations affecting EU security and defence.

2. **Lot 2: Military Utility Assessment**, also valued at 800,000 EUR, focuses on evaluating the military applications of new technologies and developing frameworks for their adoption within defence.

3. **Lot 3: Consultancy Services for Needs Assessment, Market Research, and Market Consultations**, which has an estimated value of 1,200,000 EUR. This lot aims to link innovation suppliers with defence users through expert consultancy and organized market consultations.

4. **Lot 4: Defence Innovation Training Courses**, estimated at 400,000 EUR, involves developing high-quality training tailored to EU Ministries of Defence to foster understanding and skills in managing defence innovations.

Eligible applicants for this tender include companies, research institutes, and consultancies with relevant expertise in defence and technology sectors. The opportunity is classified as a procurement contract and is structured as a framework agreement, allowing for multi-year engagements.

There is no explicit requirement for consortia, meaning both individual entities and groups can apply. The beneficiary scope is primarily focused on EU Member States, with no specific countries explicitly mentioned. The projects target various stages of development, including research, validation, and implementation pertaining to technology monitoring, military assessments, market research, and training.

The mechanism of support is monetary, with contractors being compensated for services rendered. The application process involves a single stage, with no prior qualification needed. Success rates are not disclosed, and there is no co-funding requirement for participants.

Overall, this tender provides a meaningful opportunity for entities to engage in strategic defence innovation initiatives, contributing to the robustness of the EU's defence capabilities. Interested parties must navigate the electronic submission system, ensuring they meet all outlined requirements by the stated deadline.

This is a call for tenders, reference EDA/2025/OP/0006, published on 08/07/2025 by the European Defence Agency (EDA) for the HUB for EU DEFENCE INNOVATION (HEDI). The tender, titled "Defence Frontier Insight," is divided into four lots and aims to provide strategic intelligence and training on emerging defence technologies. The submission method is electronic and is currently open. The TED reference is 128/2025 441742-2025.

The overall estimated value of the tender is 3,200,000 EUR. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 08/09/2025 at 17:00 Europe/Brussels time. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 29/08/2025 at 05:00 Europe/Brussels. The date and time of the public opening is 09/09/2025 11:00 Europe/Brussels.

The main classification (CPV) code is 73400000 - Research and Development services on security and defence materials.

The four lots are:

Lot 1: Technology Watch and Landscaping (ref 25.RTI.OP.212 (SC1/25.RTI.SC.213))
The key objective is to provide a continuous and structured assessment of technological developments across both defence and non-defence sectors, identifying emerging trends, weak signals, and dual-use innovations that could impact EU security and defence. The nature of the contract is services, with a maximum duration of 48 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. The estimated value is 800,000 EUR. It is a framework agreement, with reopening of competition. Additional CPV codes include 72220000 - Systems and technical consultancy services, 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services, 73420000 - Pre-feasibility study and technological demonstration, 79120000 - Patent and copyright consultancy services, and 79310000 - Market research services.

Lot 2: Military Utility Assessment (25.RTI.OP.214 (SC1/25.RTI.SC.215))
The overarching objective is to design, operationalize, and implement a robust Military Utility Assessment (MUA) framework that supports the structured evaluation of emerging technologies for potential defence applications. The nature of the contract is services, with a maximum duration of 48 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. The estimated value is 800,000 EUR. It is a framework agreement, without reopening of competition. Additional CPV codes include 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services, 72220000 - Systems and technical consultancy services, 73420000 - Pre-feasibility study and technological demonstration, 79310000 - Market research services, and 79120000 - Patent and copyright consultancy services.

Lot 3: Consultancy services for needs assessment, market research and market consultations (ref 25.RTI.OP.216 (SC1/25.RTI.SC.217))
Provide expert consultancy services to support comprehensive needs assessments, market research, and the facilitation of targeted market consultations aimed at bridging the gap between innovation suppliers and defence end-users. Activities will include the generation of market intelligence and detailed supplier mapping to identify key industry players, including emerging and high-potential companies relevant to defence innovation. The contractor will be responsible for organizing and moderating structured engagements between defence stakeholders and the industrial base to foster dialogue, align expectations, and identify opportunities for collaboration. In addition, this lot encompasses the development of procurement roadmaps to support the structured adoption of innovative technologies within defence frameworks. Advisory services will also be provided on the regulatory, policy, and procedural considerations that may impact the integration of novel solutions into defence procurement processes. The nature of the contract is services, with a maximum duration of 48 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. The estimated value is 1,200,000 EUR. It is a framework agreement, partly without reopening and partly with reopening of competition. Additional CPV codes include 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services, 73400000 - Research and Development services on security and defence materials, 73420000 - Pre-feasibility study and technological demonstration, 79120000 - Patent and copyright consultancy services, 79310000 - Market research services, and 79111000 - Legal advisory services. The main CPV code is 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services.

Lot 4: Defence Innovation Training Courses (ref. 25.RTI.OP.218(SC1/25.RTI.SC.219))
The objective of this framework contract is to develop and deliver a structured, high-quality Defence Innovation Course tailored to the needs of EU Ministries of Defence (MoDs) and relevant defence stakeholders. The course aims to foster a harmonised understanding of defence innovation concepts, processes, and ecosystems across EU Member States, while equipping participants with the practical skills and competencies necessary to initiate, manage, and scale innovation activities within defence organisations. The nature of the contract is services, with a maximum duration of 48 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. The estimated value is 400,000 EUR. It is a framework agreement, without reopening of competition. The main CPV code is 80500000 - Training services. Additional CPV codes include 73400000 - Research and Development services on security and defence materials and 80420000 - E-learning services.

To submit a tender, it must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the electronic submission method.

The documentation includes: Invitation to tender letter, Administrative Specifications, Annexes to Administrative Specifications, Draft Framework Contract for each lot, and Technical Specifications for Lots 1, 2, and 3.

The eSubmission system supports the latest versions of Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Attachments should be less than 50 MB in size, and the maximum number of documents allowed per tender is 200 files. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages, with UTF-8 character set encoding. The system encrypts all uploaded documents. Submissions in draft status can be edited, viewed, and deleted until the deadline.

This tender opportunity, Defence Frontier Insight (DFI), is a multifaceted initiative by the European Defence Agency aimed at bolstering defence innovation across the EU. It's structured into four distinct lots, each addressing a critical aspect of defence technology and innovation management. Lot 1 focuses on technology watch and landscaping, tasking contractors with providing continuous assessments of global technological advancements using AI, to identify trends relevant to EU security. Lot 2 centers on military utility assessment, requiring the evaluation of emerging technologies for their potential military applications. Lot 3 involves consultancy services for market research and consultation, aiming to bridge the gap between innovation suppliers and defence users through expert advice and structured engagements. Finally, Lot 4 is dedicated to developing and delivering defence innovation training courses, fostering a common understanding of innovation practices among EU member states. The EDA seeks to enhance strategic intelligence, promote technology adoption, facilitate collaboration, and cultivate a skilled workforce, ultimately strengthening the EU's defence capabilities.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity details do not explicitly list eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the tender, it is likely that eligible applicants include companies, research organizations, consultancies, and training providers with expertise in defense, technology, innovation, and market analysis. The call is open, so it is likely that any legal entity can apply.

Funding Type: This is a procurement opportunity, specifically a call for tenders. The financial mechanism involves awarding service contracts to successful tenderers. The contracts are framework agreements.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity details do not specify whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. It is possible that both single applicants and consortia are eligible, but this would need to be confirmed in the tender documents.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The opportunity details do not explicitly state geographic eligibility. However, given that it is issued by the European Defence Agency and involves EU Ministries of Defence, it is highly likely that the primary target is entities based in the EU and potentially EEA countries.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is defense, with a strong focus on innovation, technology, and market analysis within the defense industry. Sub-sectors include emerging technologies, dual-use innovations, military utility assessment, market consultation, and defense innovation training.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU Member States.

Project Stage: The projects within this opportunity target various stages, including:
Technology Watch and Landscaping: Monitoring and assessment of emerging technologies (research, development).
Military Utility Assessment: Evaluating potential military applications (validation, demonstration).
Market Consultation: Bridging gaps between innovation suppliers and defense users (commercialization).
Defense Innovation Training Courses: Developing and delivering training (commercialization, scale-up).

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the procedure is 3,200,000 EUR. The estimated values for each lot are:
Lot 1: 800,000 EUR
Lot 4: 400,000 EUR
Lot 3: 1,200,000 EUR
Lot 2: 800,000 EUR

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered, as this is a procurement contract.

Application Stages: The opportunity details do not explicitly specify the number of application stages. However, based on standard procurement procedures, it is likely that there will be an initial submission stage followed by evaluation and selection stages.

Success Rates: The opportunity details do not provide information on success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the European Defence Agency (EDA) under the HUB for EU DEFENCE INNOVATION (HEDI) initiative, specifically focusing on Defence Future Insights (DFI). The overall estimated value is 3,200,000 EUR. The initiative aims to provide strategic intelligence on emerging defense technologies, support capability-driven prioritization, and foster a shared understanding of defense innovation across EU Ministries of Defence.

The call is divided into four lots:

Lot 1: Technology Watch and Landscaping, which involves AI-supported assessment of worldwide technological developments to identify emerging trends and dual-use innovations impacting EU security and defense. The estimated value is 800,000 EUR, and the contract duration is 48 months. The CPV codes include research and development services on security and defense materials, systems and technical consultancy services, pre-feasibility study and technological demonstration, patent and copyright consultancy services, and market research services.

Lot 2: Military Utility Assessment, which focuses on evaluating the potential military applications of emerging technologies and identifying pathways for adoption into defense capability development. The estimated value is 800,000 EUR, and the contract duration is 48 months. The CPV codes include research and development services on security and defense materials, research and development services and related consultancy services, systems and technical consultancy services, pre-feasibility study and technological demonstration, market research services, and patent and copyright consultancy services.

Lot 3: Consultancy services for needs assessment, market research, and market consultations, which involves providing expert consultancy support for conducting market research and facilitating structured market consultations to bridge gaps between innovation suppliers and defense users. The estimated value is 1,200,000 EUR, and the contract duration is 48 months. The CPV codes include business and management consultancy and related services, research and development services and related consultancy services, research and development services on security and defense materials, pre-feasibility study and technological demonstration, patent and copyright consultancy services, market research services, and legal advisory services.

Lot 4: Defence Innovation Training Courses, which involves developing and delivering a structured, high-quality Defence Innovation Course. The estimated value is 400,000 EUR, and the contract duration is 48 months. The CPV codes include training services, research and development services on security and defense materials, and e-learning services.

The procedure type is an open procedure, and submissions must be sent electronically. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 08/09/2025 at 17:00 Europe/Brussels. The contracting authority is the European Defence Agency. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio.

To participate, tenderers need a Personal Identification Code (PIC). The system supports 24 official EU languages and uses UTF-8 character set encoding. The system encrypts all uploaded documents. The maximum number of documents that can be uploaded per tender is 200, and the maximum file size is 50 MB.

In essence, this tender seeks qualified organizations to provide services related to technology intelligence, military utility assessment, market consultation, and training in the defense innovation sector, supporting the EU's efforts to enhance its defense capabilities through innovation.