Investing in Poland is increasingly part of European companies’ strategies — not only because of Poland’s strong economic momentum, but also due to expanding industrial cooperation with key regions across Europe. One of Poland’s most important economic partners remains Germany’s state of North Rhine–Westphalia (NRW).
During the 4th Polish-German Business Dialogue, held on 19 February 2026 in Essen, more than 140 business representatives from both countries discussed new opportunities for cooperation. The meeting focused primarily on energy, energy storage technologies, and the defence industry — sectors that may become major areas of joint investment in the coming years.
Strong trade ties between Poland and North Rhine–Westphalia
North Rhine–Westphalia is Germany’s largest industrial region and one of Europe’s most important energy hubs. Its economic cooperation with Poland has been developing for years, and Poland is now among the region’s key trading partners.
According to economic data:
- Poland is the fifth-largest export market for NRW,
- in 2024, NRW exports to Poland reached EUR 13.6 billion,
- imports from Poland totalled EUR 12.8 billion, placing Poland seventh among NRW’s import partners.
The trade structure is dominated by:
- industrial machinery and equipment,
- vehicles and automotive components,
- chemical products,
- electronic and optical technologies.
Data for the first eleven months of 2025 indicates that trade volume remains close to the record levels of the previous year, confirming the stability of economic relations between the two regions.
Energy as a key area of cooperation
One of the main topics in Essen was Poland’s energy transition. In the coming years, Poland will implement major infrastructure projects related to modernising the energy system and diversifying energy sources.
As emphasised by Lars Gutheil, CEO of the Polish-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Polska), many of these projects will be financed through the EU recovery fund, with implementation timelines running through 2026.
For companies from North Rhine–Westphalia, this is an especially attractive prospect. The region has strong capabilities in areas such as:
- energy infrastructure,
- energy management technologies,
- energy distribution systems.
That is why NRW companies are increasingly looking for ways to participate in projects supporting the modernisation of Poland’s power grid.
Energy storage: a rapidly growing technology market
One of the most promising areas for cooperation is the development of energy storage technologies. Poland plans to build multiple large-scale energy storage facilities, which will be critical to stabilising the power system as the share of renewable energy continues to grow.
As noted by Barbara Adamska, President of the Polish Energy Storage Association (Polskie Stowarzyszenie Magazynowania Energii), energy storage is currently the fastest-growing technology in the energy sector.
This market expansion opens up new opportunities for businesses, particularly in:
- supplying energy storage technologies and systems,
- manufacturing components for batteries and accumulator systems,
- engineering services and energy system integration,
- digital solutions for energy management.
SMEs may also play an increasing role in these projects — especially those specialising in components or niche technology services.
Cooperation in defence and new technologies
Another fast-growing area of cooperation is the defence sector. Poland is currently among NATO countries allocating one of the highest shares of GDP to defence spending.
Within the European SAFE programme, Poland plans to invest approximately EUR 43.7 billion in the coming years to develop advanced defence technologies and strengthen production capacity.
Polish-German cooperation in this area may include, among others:
- optical and laser technologies,
- satellite systems,
- AI-based solutions,
- defence equipment manufacturing.
According to experts, expanding such partnerships could contribute to building a stronger European technology ecosystem in the security sector.
Poland as a partner for European industrial investors
The growing economic cooperation between Poland and North Rhine–Westphalia shows that investing in Poland is increasingly strategic — focused on specific industrial, technological, and infrastructure projects. Many European companies now see Poland not only as a sales market, but also as a place to develop manufacturing capacity, technology back-office functions, and long-term industrial partnerships.
For investors, this can mean participation in projects related to:
- modernising energy infrastructure,
- scaling energy storage technologies,
- defence industry initiatives,
- producing components for the wider technology sector.
Those interested in a broader economic context and business expansion opportunities in Poland can also refer to our article “Investing in Poland in 2026 – a comprehensive guide for foreign investors and entrepreneurs”, where we discuss the key investment trends and outlook for international businesses.
At the same time, for companies planning to start operations in Poland, it is crucial to understand local regulations and available business structures. Detailed information on procedures and legal forms of business can be found in the article “Foreigners in Poland: register company in Poland – a practical setup guide.”
Joint projects as a driver of Europe’s economic development
The talks in Essen demonstrate that economic cooperation between Poland and Germany is no longer limited to trade alone — it increasingly revolves around joint technological and industrial projects. The energy transition, the rapid growth of energy storage, and investments in the security sector are making investing in Poland one of the key development directions for many European companies.
For businesses, this means access to new infrastructure and technology projects that may significantly shape the European economy in the coming years.
