The experts strongly rejected the notion that Poland is becoming a technological backwater, noting that investment in innovation is growing slowly but surely. However, they agreed that an acceleration of this progress would be beneficial, including at the European level.

‘That would be too extreme a statement, although there is a saying that in recent years the European Union has specialised in regulation rather than innovation’, said Jakub Cendrowski, director of InHub at the University of Economics in Wrocław.

He pointed out that while regulations on AI and blockchain are necessary to protect citizens from threats such as deepfakes, such rules must not hinder the development of technology.

‘We need strong European, perhaps Polish, AI. We must focus on developing our technologies and consistently build our own solutions, even if we see that others are doing it faster. Our biggest ally is not very willing to sell us AI technology, and we are not among the group of countries with priority in purchasing technology from the US’, said Cendrowski.

Commercialisation help needed

Dr Karolina Czekaj, a member of the management board at Adamed, emphasised that while innovative solutions are often developed in Poland, the problem lies in scaling and commercialising them effectively. She argued that support is needed in this area to ensure Polish technological ideas are not sold and implemented abroad at an early stage of development.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have recently prompted a change in approach. Both events have revealed the extent to which Poland and Europe are dependent on Asian markets for supplies such as the active substances used by the pharmaceutical industry.

The disruption of supply chains, combined with increased demand for medicines for pulmonary and cardiac conditions exacerbated by the pandemic, prompted companies to seek alternative solutions. This crisis has accelerated the implementation of modern, low-carbon technologies for the development and production of active substances. Adamed is also working on such technologies, despite the enormous costs involved in pharmaceutical development.

‘Each of the Big Pharma companies spends several billion dollars a year on research and development. We can only allocate a fraction of a percent of that amount’, said Karolina Czekaj. She explained that clinical trials are very expensive, and since the development of new drugs is a high-risk activity, many projects must be undertaken for even a few to be successfully commercialised. ‘The state should be involved, both through financial support and by facilitating dialogue with the scientific community to link ideas emerging at universities with commercial activity’, emphasised the member of Adamed’s management board.

During the war, Ukraine has become a testing ground for the development of artificial intelligence for military applications, a potential that Europe should also exploit.

‘We should talk about the fusion of artificial intelligence in the civil and military sectors’, said Andriy Zablovsky, head of the secretariat of the Business Owners' Council at the Council of Ministers of Ukraine. He reported that Ukraine is currently developing five to ten breakthrough technologies, not only in the military field but also in civilian applications of artificial intelligence.

Innovation offers opportunities for the economy

Paweł Piec, Director of Public Policy for Central and Eastern Europe at Bolt, emphasised that the company he represents seeks to grow as a technology enterprise and is exploring opportunities to introduce new services. He stressed that it is not a taxi company employing drivers, and that innovation is therefore fundamental to its development.