Poland is facing a strategic choice between remaining a subcontractor in global technology chains and becoming a creator of its own solutions. A new report by the Polish Economic Institute (PIE) argues that the country’s wealth in a decade will depend largely on this decision.
The report, titled „Autonomy instead of sovereignty. A framework for managing technological dependencies in Poland,” proposes replacing the goal of technological sovereignty with technological autonomy. PIE argues that full self-sufficiency in advanced technology production is unrealistic, while autonomy can be achieved even under partial dependence on foreign suppliers, licenses, and know-how.
Technological autonomy is defined as the ability of the state to independently make and implement technology decisions in line with its own goals. It should translate into freedom of choice, control over the use of technology, development of domestic capacities, and the shaping of relations with other countries.
– Technological autonomy is not an end in itself, but a means to achieving other priorities – reads the PIE report.
EU policy opens doors, but also creates risks
The growth of EU investment in technology gives Polish entrepreneurs access to large projects and consortia, especially in defense, digitalization, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and energy-intensive or zero-emission industries. At the same time, EU efforts to reduce reliance on suppliers from third countries could boost demand for European-made goods and services. With a relatively large industrial base, Poland has a chance to become a key production and technology back-up for European value chains, moving deeper into components, engineering services, and system integration.
Public procurement is becoming a stronger industrial policy tool. Criteria such as „made in the EU” and supply resilience requirements open up new opportunities for Polish firms in public tenders, but only if they can meet stricter standards on security and carbon footprint. The chance depends on having strong domestic entities and the ability to build consortia that can compete for major contracts. Initiatives like the Cloud Sovereignty Framework (CSF) and the digital sovereignty agenda, which promote European cloud solutions and open standards, create room for Polish companies active in cloud implementation, data protection, cybersecurity, and regulatory consulting.
How to avoid the trap of the workshop
PIE also warns that EU programs, funds, orders, and the most valuable projects may concentrate in the core member states. If that happens, Poland’s development and innovation potential could shrink instead of grow. Another threat is the „executive back-up” trap, which would cement Poland’s role as a subcontractor doing less advanced stages of production.
Poland’s relatively high emission intensity makes it vulnerable to EU preferences for low-carbon products in tenders and support schemes. The push to create European champions could also limit competition and increase prices, for example in telecom services, and reduce investment in less profitable areas. The push to reduce dependence on the United States and China could also create new dependence on large European suppliers and technology hubs, which would not increase Polish control over critical infrastructure.
– From the Polish perspective, it is crucial that European technological autonomy is not defined solely as the autonomy of the largest EU states – stressed Filip Leśniewicz, senior analyst in PIE’s digital economy team and author of the report.
Poland should therefore use diplomacy and government action to oppose an EU autonomy model that could become protectionism of the strongest member states. The report calls for abandoning the model based on importing ready-made solutions and acting as a subcontractor, and instead building domestic capacities to create higher value-added technologies. The country needs to move from a semi-peripheral position to a more central role that develops its own design and production capabilities. Strategic use of public procurement and local content is one of the key steps: tenders in cybersecurity, energy, and health care should stimulate demand for domestic solutions. Clear and measurable definitions of „Polish company” and „Polish technology” should be based on ownership, place of production, and intellectual property.
Specialization is equally important. Rather than aspiring to self-sufficiency in every field, Poland should focus on niches where it already has advantages, such as battery technologies, defense, and food processing. Mid-tech areas close to Polish firms, including automation, robotics, and generic drugs, should also receive support. Building hierarchical value chains should cover technologies critical for society and the state that are within technological reach, such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and security, as well as areas where Poland can gain a lasting competitive edge.
The report stresses that autonomy requires planning beyond election cycles and a durable agreement among major political forces. Without such consensus, support policies for particular technologies could be suspended because of electoral pressure, the demand for quick results, and the risk of politicized investment decisions. Trade unions and educational institutions should be involved in technology design to ensure that technical progress goes together with worker skills and high-quality jobs.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. IM Imagery / Shutterstock
