Belgium within the European competitive cooperative defence ecosystem: Analysing the EDF vs key characteristics of Belgium.

This study examines the Belgian Defence Technological and Industrial Base (BE
DTIB) within the cooperative EU defence ecosystem. We employ the European Defence Fund (EDF) and its precursor programs as a proxy for the ecosystem to assess the presence of Belgian entities and their comparative success. The study addresses a gap in the literature by focusing on the actual EU contribution per entity, rather than the average contribution per entity employed in existing literature. Additionally, we include both the EDF and its precursors, which provide insights over time. The data is sourced from the EU funding and tenders portal (SEDIA), the EU financial transparency system, project factsheets and supplemental material.

Since no single source exists from which all data can be obtained, we discuss the challenges encountered during data collection so others may replicate our approach. By comparing the data to the characteristics of the Belgian Defence Technological and Industrial Base (BE-DTIB), defence-product exports, to the Belgian Defence Industry and Research Strategy (BE-DIRS), and using several dimensions and indicators for success, we find that the EDF and its precursors are an overall success for Belgium to engage in the cooperative EU defence
ecosystem. Nevertheless, we also identify limitations in regard to the alignment of Belgian characteristics and suggest ways to address them.