Upon taking office in December 2023, I knew that Poland could no longer treat digitalisation as a mere afterthought. It is not simply an app, a website, a solitary data centre, or the procurement of yet another IT system; rather, it is the very mechanism by which a modern state operates. It encompasses infrastructure, security, the economy, education, healthcare, and citizens’ daily interactions with public administration.

Today, exactly 1,000 days into my tenure, I can confidently say that ‘Digital Poland’ has gathered genuine momentum. This is not just because we have rolled out dozens of new digital services, but because we have started building a state that views digitalisation as a cornerstone of its strength.

A highly visible symbol of this transformation is the mObywatel app. Its user base surpassed 12 million in May this year and is now approaching 13 million, meaning we have doubled the number of users in just two and a half years. However, the figures themselves are not the primary achievement; what is truly encouraging is the shift in mindset they represent. Poles no longer wonder if they can resolve official matters via their smartphones—they simply do it. The digital state is no longer a niche project for technology enthusiasts; it has become an integral part of everyday life for millions.

Digitalisation has a plan for the decade

Responsible, citizen-centric digitalisation requires a clear plan. That is why adopting the State Digitalisation Strategy 2035 stands out as one of the key achievements of this term. It is the first document in Polish history to map out such a comprehensive trajectory for the state’s digital transformation over the coming decade. Rather than compiling yet another wish list, we sought a concrete roadmap to ensure Poland becomes a country where digital services are the default method for engaging with public administration. In this vision, digital infrastructure is a strategic asset, artificial intelligence drives economic productivity, and digital security is inextricably linked to national security.

The ultimate aim is a better state: one that responds swiftly, leverages data effectively, and guarantees universal digital services alongside robust cybersecurity. It is about creating a state that harnesses technology to become more cost-effective, accessible, and efficient.

There is, however, one crucial condition: digitalisation must be universal. It cannot remain the exclusive privilege of urban residents, the youth, or high earners. This is precisely why we are heavily investing in digital skills, accessibility, and infrastructure, supporting local authorities, schools, the public sector, and anyone requiring additional assistance. A truly digital state must not leave anyone offline.

Security is the other side of digitalisation

As we transition more state functions into the digital realm, our responsibility for their security naturally grows. Poland faces daily cyberattacks, making cyberspace a vital frontline of national security. Consequently, we are investing in cybersecurity on a scale unimaginable just a few years ago. We are allocating record sums to this area, with expenditure expected to surpass PLN 5 billion this year alone. These funds are being channelled into government departments, local authorities, and universities, as well as businesses and organisations managing critical infrastructure. We are acutely aware, however, that money and technology alone will not suffice.

Robust legislation is equally essential. We have therefore reformed the National Cybersecurity System, implemented the European NIS2 Directive, and extended protection to additional economic sectors. We have established clear obligations for key entities, alongside new oversight and response mechanisms. Furthermore, in March of this year, the Council of Ministers adopted the new Cybersecurity Strategy of the Republic of Poland. Its core message is simple: Poland’s digital resilience must be built with the same consistency as our energy, military, and economic resilience. Consequently, we have expanded the network of protected institutions from 1,000 to nearly 40,000 entities. Rather than merely discussing these issues, we are simply getting on with the job.

The end of the paper-based state

In the context of a citizen-centric digital state, restructuring the administration and its interactions with the public is paramount. On 1 January 2025, the e-Doręczenia system—the electronic equivalent of a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt—came into force. This solution forms a cornerstone of digital administration, as the state cannot reasonably expect citizens to interact digitally while continuing to rely on paper itself. The system is currently functioning exceptionally well, having already processed over 100 million letters. Translated into paper usage, this equates to saving some 6,500 trees.

In 2025, we also launched the cyber.gov.pl portal. Serving as a ‘one-stop shop’ for public services, it provides comprehensive information on cyber threats alongside guidelines for crisis response. Meanwhile, the mObywatel app now features a free qualified digital signature, which Poles have utilised over 300,000 times, and more than a million official payments have been processed directly via mobile phones. Concurrently, a digital revolution is sweeping through local government across the country. In December 2023, a mere 140 municipal offices used electronic document management systems; today, that figure exceeds 4,000. We are witnessing a genuine revolution unfold, giving Polish civil servants the confidence that paper will be entirely eradicated from their offices by 2035.

We cannot merely be consumers of technology

There is, however, another dimension to this digital transformation: technological sovereignty. For years, we grew accustomed to the notion that the most crucial technologies were developed abroad. This mindset must change. The goal is for both Poland and Europe to possess their own expertise, infrastructure, data, models, and talent pool, enabling us to create the technologies upon which our economy and security increasingly rely. Guided by this principle, we have placed a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence. We are developing the Polish language model, PLLuM, and supporting the Bielik project. Furthermore, we have established the Artificial Intelligence Fund, investing billions of zlotys to advance research, finance start-ups, build expertise in AI safety, and develop computing infrastructure. AI factories are currently under construction in Kraków and Poznań, granting Polish businesses, researchers, and the public sector access to advanced computing capabilities, and we are working intensively to establish an AI gigafactory in Poland. These are not frivolous expenses on a passing trend in technology, but vital investments in Poland’s future competitiveness.

Our mission extends beyond simply developing AI; we must also regulate it effectively and guarantee its safety. In 2026, we passed the Act on Artificial Intelligence Systems, establishing a national framework for AI implementation and market oversight. Concurrently, Poland is playing an active role in the wider European debate on the future of artificial intelligence, advocating for technology that is both bold and responsible. This balance is critical, as pitting security against innovation would be a grave error. We do not want a Poland that fears AI, but rather one capable of creating, understanding, regulating, and deploying it safely.

Investing in knowledge

Digital security, however, does not end in the server room. Today, an attack on the state can manifest as phishing, identity theft, disinformation, audio-visual manipulation, or coordinated campaigns by fake accounts. Consequently, the digital resilience of our citizens is just as critical as the resilience of our infrastructure. To this end, we are teaching children and young adults how to navigate the internet safely while providing support for parents and teachers. We are rolling out comprehensive digital literacy programmes, actively combating cyberbullying and disinformation, and developing tools for the public to report suspicious messages and websites. During the current parliamentary term, we have already invested a record-breaking sum of over one billion zlotys in advancing digital literacy.

In building a digital Poland, we are making bold use of funding from the National Recovery Plan. We have procured over 400,000 laptops and 220,000 tablets for schools, investing heavily in the digital skills of our youngest citizens, knowing full well that their expertise will drive future innovation. Crucially, we are also prioritising their safety; secure internet access is now operational in more than 20,000 schools under the auspices of the Nationwide Education Network (OSE).

Expanding access to high-speed internet remains a top priority, and within just two years, we have connected over half a million new addresses. By acting swiftly and decisively, we have allocated over PLN 50 billion to digitalisation through Poland's National Recovery Plan. While this is a staggering sum, the transformation it is facilitating is nothing short of revolutionary.

A project for the future

To portray digitalisation in the public debate merely as a technical issue would be a mistake. It is an overarching social and economic project that dictates the state's operational efficiency, the competitiveness of Polish enterprises, our threat response capabilities, our education, and the very functioning of our democracy. Ultimately, it determines Poland’s future standing in Europe and across the globe. Digitalisation is now an integral part of Poland’s raison d’état. The steps we have taken since December 2023 were essential, but they are not the end of the journey. We must transition from offering digital services to operating as a digital state as a whole; from deploying standalone applications to building a shared data architecture; and from manual procedures to seamless automation. We must shift our focus from merely reacting to cyberattacks to embedding comprehensive cyber-resilience, and from procuring technology to actively creating it. Ultimately, we must move from being passive recipients of the global AI revolution to actively shaping its European dimension.

Looking ahead, I want citizens to never have to guess which government department handles their affairs. I want to ensure that business owners no longer waste days on administrative tasks that can be fully automated. I want Polish scientists to access world-class infrastructure that enables them to compete globally, and I want Polish firms not just to implement artificial intelligence, but to be the ones developing it.

Over the past few years, we have laid robust foundations: millions of mObywatel users, new public services, the e-Doręczenia system, PESEL number protection, substantial cybersecurity investments, pioneering legislation, AI advancements, and expanded telecommunications and computing infrastructure. Above all, we have delivered the state's first comprehensive digitalisation strategy. Now, we must take the next crucial step forward, and that is precisely why we need another thousand days.

Poland has the potential to be a European leader in digital transformation, rather than serving merely as a market for global tech giants. We are building a state capable of seamlessly blending digitalisation with security, and innovation with responsibility. Through these efforts, we are acquiring much more than just modern public services—the state itself is gaining true agency. And that is exactly the kind of Poland we are striving to build.