A technological race for dominance in artificial intelligence is uinderway in Europe. The European Union is planning investments worth $34.6 billion in AI infrastructure, and Poland is actively seeking its place in this ecosystem. Together with the Baltic states, Poland has applied to the AI Gigafactory programme – next-generation high-performance computing centers. At the same time, grant programmes are being developed to support the adoption of AI technologies in sectors such as tourism, transport, and data analytics.
This article provides concrete and up-to-date information on how AI in Poland is becoming the foundation of digital development, and how foreign entrepreneurs can benefit from it.
AI Gigafactories in the EU – Poland competing for multi-billion investments
In June 2025, the European Commission closed the call for expressions of interest in the so-called AI Gigafactories. A total of 76 applications were submitted, covering 60 locations in 16 EU Member States. Poland applied in partnership with Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia – a region gaining recognition as the EU’s digital hub.
The project includes the construction of 13 regional computing centers and 4–5 full-scale Gigafactories, each equipped with at least 100,000 GPUs and costing between €3–5 billion. Part of the funding is expected to come from the Digital Europe Programme.
Why does this matter?
- Poland and the Baltic countries have a realistic chance to host one of these investments.
- The infrastructure will be accessible to European startups and SMEs, potentially encouraging foreign companies to register their operations in Poland.
- AI factories will support training large-scale AI models – currently a major limitation for European companies compared to the US and China.
Status as of August 2025: The European Commission is analyzing submissions, with location decisions expected by the end of the year. For investors, now is the ideal time to monitor the situation and prepare to enter the Polish computing infrastructure market.
Grants Supporting AI in Poland – Infostrateg programme
In parallel with infrastructure investments, Poland runs grant programmes to support AI implementation in specific economic sectors. One example is the 8th edition of the Infostrateg programme, managed by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR).
Key facts:
- Budget: PLN 44 million.
- Funding for: companies, research institutions, and consortia (up to 3 entities).
- Focus areas: AI, machine learning, blockchain – with emphasis on the tourism and transport sectors.
- Requirement: part of the project must include experimental development work.
- Project start deadline: June 1, 2026.
- Duration: up to 40 months.
One of the aims is to develop tools for forecasting tourist traffic in Poland – analyzing data, seasonality, and demand – as well as supporting local governments and transport operators in infrastructure management.
Benefits for foreign investors:
- Opportunity to access public funds for AI development.
- Collaboration with Polish research and industrial partners.
- Faster market entry with ready-to-use, locally adapted solutions.
Energy challenges and public-private cooperation opportunities
Building AI Gigafactories also poses infrastructure challenges – each may consume up to 1 GW of energy, equivalent to a medium-sized nuclear power plant. This requires investments in grid upgrades and the development of renewable energy sources.
This opens additional areas for foreign investment – in energy, green IT, and the development of local distribution networks. EU funds include public-private partnerships (PPP), meaning the private sector will play a key role in project execution.
AI in Poland is now a tangible development strategy supported by EU funds, international cooperation, and growing demand for advanced technologies. Participation in initiatives such as AI Gigafactories or Infostrateg is not only an opportunity for Polish companies but also a concrete prospect for foreign entrepreneurs:
- to enter a growing market,
- use high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure,
- and build competitive advantage based on data and AI models.
For tech firms, data center operators, energy companies, or startups – Poland is becoming one of the most promising AI investment destinations in Europe.
