Poland is facing a strategic choice: remain a subcontractor or become a creator of technology, and that decision may determine the country’s wealth in the next decade. The Polish Economic Institute (PIE) warns in a new report that without defending its technological agency today, Poland risks being stuck in the role of a lower-tier supplier.
The report, Autonomy instead of Sovereignty: A Framework for Managing Technological Dependencies in Poland, argues that full technological sovereignty – understood as self-sufficiency in advanced tech production – is an unrealistic goal. What is possible, it argues, is technological autonomy: the ability of a state to make and implement its own technological decisions in line with its goals, even if it remains partially dependent on foreign suppliers, licenses or know-how.
– Technological autonomy is not an end in itself, but a means to pursue other priorities – reads the PIE report.
For the Polish economy, autonomy would mean leaving the model based on importing ready-made solutions and acting as a subcontractor. Instead, Poland should develop domestic capabilities to create technologies with higher added value. This would improve the quality of work, according to the report.
EU policy opens doors, but risks remain
European Union policy offers several paths that could work in Poland’s favour. Growing EU investment in technology gives Polish companies a chance to take part in large projects and consortia, especially in defence, digitalisation, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and energy-intensive or zero-emission industries.
The EU’s push to reduce reliance on suppliers from third countries could also raise demand for products and services made in Europe. Poland, with its relatively large industrial base, could become a key production and technology base for European value chains, moving deeper into component manufacturing, engineering services and system integration.
Public procurement is another lever. Introducing EU-made content criteria and supply-resilience requirements can help Polish firms compete for public contracts, provided they meet new standards on security and carbon footprint. The report stresses that strong domestic players and consortia able to bid for large orders will be crucial. Initiatives such as the Cloud Sovereignty Framework and the digital sovereignty agenda also open space for Polish companies in cloud deployment, data protection, cybersecurity and regulatory consulting.
However, PIE warns that EU programmes and funds may concentrate in the bloc’s core states, which could limit Poland’s development and innovation potential. Another risk is the trap of remaining a back-office for less advanced production stages. Because Poland’s economy is still relatively emission-intensive, tying EU preferences to a low carbon footprint may work against it.
How Poland can move from semi-periphery to centre
The report also cautions that EU efforts to create large European players could reduce competition in some markets, push up service prices – for example in telecommunications – and limit investment in less profitable areas. Cutting dependence on the US and China may, in turn, create a new dependence on the largest European suppliers and technology hubs.
– From the Polish perspective, the fundamental issue is that European technological autonomy must not be defined solely as the autonomy of the largest EU states – said Filip Leśniewicz, senior analyst at PIE’s digital economy team and report author.
Poland, he argues, should shape new EU instruments so they allow advancement in value chains, the growth of domestic competences, participation in research-industrial consortia, access to public procurement and the construction of local technology design and production capacities. The country’s diplomacy and administration should oppose any form of EU autonomy that becomes a tool of protectionism for the strongest member states.
To make this shift, PIE proposes strategic use of public tenders and local content. Administration should use procurement in cybersecurity, energy and health care to stimulate demand for Polish solutions. Requirements for local production share should be clarified so that companies actually manufacturing technology in Poland are rewarded, not just distributors. Clear definitions of a Polish company and Polish technology based on measurable criteria such as ownership, place of production and intellectual property are also needed.
Specialisation is another recommendation. Instead of expensive attempts to be self-sufficient in every field, Poland should focus on niches where it already has advantages: battery technologies, defence industry and food processing. The institute also advises support for mid-tech technologies within reach of Polish firms, including automation, robotics and generic drugs.
Building hierarchical value chains should target critical technologies for state and society that are within technological reach, such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture and security, as well as areas where Poland can achieve a lasting competitive edge or has a strategic development goal. Finally, the report stresses that autonomy cannot be built without planning beyond election cycles. A durable agreement among major political forces is needed, otherwise support policies may be halted by electoral pressure, the desire for quick effects and the risk of politicised investment decisions. Trade unions and education institutions should be involved in technology design so that technical progress goes hand in hand with worker skills and high-quality jobs.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. IM Imagery / Shutterstock
