How much competition does a tender for R&D services in Belgium face?
A median of 6 bids per procedure; 24% of procedures ended with a single bidder (881 awards with a bid count). National average for Belgium across all sectors: 3.8 bids.
Search open tenders in this sector · Country guide Belgium
The market norm in numbers
| Metric | Sector | National average | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bids per procedure (median) | 6 | 3.8 | 881 |
| Procedures with a single bidder | 24% | 17% | 881 |
| Awards to a repeat winner | 12% | 13% | 1,110 |
| Distinct winners | 923 | 18,581 | 1,174 |
| Awards to companies from abroad | 56% | 26% | 1,174 |
| Award relative to estimate (median) | 94% | 82% | 32 |
| Bids from SMEs | 30% | 19% | 130 |
| Bids from abroad | 70% | 61% | 130 |
How to read these numbers
Of 35 sectors in Belgium with a bid count, R&D services ranks 1 for competition. A fifth to a third of procedures have one bidder — a bid pays off even without the best price. 12% of awards went to companies that had already won with the same buyer — buyers switch often here.
Other sectors in the same country
- Business services5 · 3,179
- Construction work4 · 2,676
- Medical equipment & pharma3 · 2,481
- Architecture & engineering5 · 2,219
- Cleaning, environment & waste4 · 2,199
- IT services5 · 2,180
- Financial & insurance services2 · 1,114
- Transport equipment3 · 1,102
- Repair & maintenance2 · 1,029
- Food & beverages4 · 879
- Agricultural services5 · 871
- Laboratory & optical equipment2 · 776
Frequently asked questions
How many bidders does a tender for R&D services in Belgium get?
A median of 6 bids per procedure, measured on 881 awards with a bid count since 2015. 24% of procedures had a single bidder.
How often does the incumbent win in Belgium?
12% of awards in R&D services went to a company that had already won with the same buyer.
Do foreign companies stand a chance in Belgium for R&D services?
56% of awards went to companies based outside Belgium.
What share of the estimate does the winner get in R&D services?
The award came in at a median 94% of the estimated value.
Where the numbers come from
From the documented awards of every portal we read (TED and the national portals), aggregated every night. Bid counts come from the award notices themselves (TED BT-759, PLACSP, OCDS, Hilma, ANAC); incumbency counts whether the winner had won with the same buyer before; abroad means the winner's country differs from the buyer's. Metrics below the minimum sample are not shown.
As of 25/10/2026 · n = 1,174