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Universities, schools and research in Europe: what they buy and who supplies them

Buyers declaring "Education" as their main activity, across the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

In proportion

General government spending on goods, services and investment for education in the EU-27 came to €220 billion in 2024 (Eurostat, COFOG). How much of it reaches suppliers through tenders depends on how the country organises the sector — for example whether statutory health insurance is classified in government.

Source: Eurostat, government finance statistics (gov_10a_main, gov_10a_exp) and GDP (nama_10_gdp), retrieved 9 November 2026.

The market in numbers

Public supply contracts in Europe: award notices published on TED from 2023-11 to 2026-11, by publication year.

Contracts awarded
105.5K
in 38.3K award notices
Awarded value
€16B
from 74% of awards with a published value
Suppliers
18K
with at least one award
Public buyers
4.4K
in this sector
Contracts awarded by year
Contracts awarded by yearNov–Dec 2023: 1,2271,227Nov–Dec 20232024: 28,56928,56920242025: 37,37137,37120252026: 38,36738,3672026
Table view
Contracts awarded by year
Nov–Dec 20231,227
202428,569
202537,371
202638,367
Awarded value by year (EUR)
Awarded value by year (EUR)Nov–Dec 2023: €246.4M€246.4MNov–Dec 20232024: €3.6B€3.6B20242025: €6.3B€6.3B20252026: €5.8B€5.8B2026
Table view
Awarded value by year (EUR)
Nov–Dec 2023€246.4M
2024€3.6B
2025€6.3B
2026€5.8B
What they buy: contracts by product category
  1. Computer equipment and supplies15,367
    Computer equipment and supplies: 15,367
  2. Food, beverages, tobacco and related products9,867
    Food, beverages, tobacco and related products: 9,867
  3. Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)8,917
    Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses): 8,917
  4. Medical equipments8,749
    Medical equipments: 8,749
  5. Pharmaceutical products6,501
    Pharmaceutical products: 6,501
  6. Instruments for checking physical characteristics6,150
    Instruments for checking physical characteristics: 6,150
  7. Miscellaneous food products6,040
    Miscellaneous food products: 6,040
  8. Furniture5,732
    Furniture: 5,732
  9. Other85,032
    Other: 85,032
Table view
What they buy: contracts by product category
Computer equipment and supplies15,367
Food, beverages, tobacco and related products9,867
Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)8,917
Medical equipments8,749
Pharmaceutical products6,501
Instruments for checking physical characteristics6,150
Miscellaneous food products6,040
Furniture5,732
Other85,032
Contracts by buyer country
  1. Romania19,231
    1,181 companies
    Romania: 19,231
  2. Poland14,980
    2,273 companies
    Poland: 14,980
  3. Slovenia11,123
    469 companies
    Slovenia: 11,123
  4. Czechia9,532
    1,161 companies
    Czechia: 9,532
  5. Bulgaria6,372
    804 companies
    Bulgaria: 6,372
  6. Germany5,705
    2,454 companies
    Germany: 5,705
  7. Hungary4,493
    767 companies
    Hungary: 4,493
  8. Slovakia4,171
    459 companies
    Slovakia: 4,171
  9. France3,715
    1,547 companies
    France: 3,715
  10. Lithuania3,570
    323 companies
    Lithuania: 3,570
Table view
Contracts by buyer country
Romania19,231
Poland14,980
Slovenia11,123
Czechia9,532
Bulgaria6,372
Germany5,705
Hungary4,493
Slovakia4,171
France3,715
Lithuania3,570
Who wins, by company size as declared in the notice
Who wins, by company size as declared in the notice: Large companies 10.9%, Medium-sized 14.2%, Small 18.7%, Micro 5.6%, SME (size not stated) 32.9%, Size not stated 17.7%Large companies: 11,463 (10.9%)11%Medium-sized: 15,036 (14.2%)14%Small: 19,774 (18.7%)19%Micro: 5,890 (5.6%)SME (size not stated): 34,688 (32.9%)33%Size not stated: 18,683 (17.7%)18%
  • Large companies
  • Medium-sized
  • Small
  • Micro
  • SME (size not stated)
  • Size not stated
Table view
Who wins, by company size as declared in the notice
Large companies11,463 · 10.9%
Medium-sized15,036 · 14.2%
Small19,774 · 18.7%
Micro5,890 · 5.6%
SME (size not stated)34,688 · 32.9%
Size not stated18,683 · 17.7%
Foreign winners: where they are registered
  1. Germany903
    Germany: 903
  2. United Kingdom429
    United Kingdom: 429
  3. Netherlands356
    Netherlands: 356
  4. United States293
    United States: 293
  5. France252
    France: 252
  6. Switzerland173
    Switzerland: 173
Table view
Foreign winners: where they are registered
Germany903
United Kingdom429
Netherlands356
United States293
France252
Switzerland173

Awards to companies registered in the buyer's own country

96.3%

Awards to companies registered in the buyer's own country: 96.3%

3,932 awards went to companies registered elsewhere.

Share of the 5 biggest winners

3.8%

Share of the 5 biggest winners: 3.8%

Of all awards; a high share means a concentrated market.

Lots with a single bid

36.1%

Lots with a single bid: 36.1%

Among 98.2K awards whose notice states the number of tenders.

How we count: one award per procedure, lot and winning company, from live contract award notices; a joint procurement counts on every buyer's market. Values are the awarded amounts published in the notice (framework ceilings and estimates are never added), converted to euro at the ECB yearly average. Company size is the SME flag of the notice (eForms BT-165). Read the methodology.

Questions

What do universities, schools and research in Europe buy through public tenders?
Mostly computer equipment and supplies (15,367 awards), food, beverages, tobacco and related products (9,867 awards), laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (8,917 awards) — 105,534 supply contracts in total since November 2023.
How much is it worth?
The 77,634 awards with a published value add up to €16B; the rest are framework ceilings or undisclosed amounts, which we never add.

All sectors in Europe · Europe by product category

Source: contract award notices on TED — Tenders Electronic Daily (ted.europa.eu), © European Union, published since November 2023; processed by Cresques. Numbers updated 2026-11-13.