Local content goes digital: Poland to measure domestic technology share in strategic investments

Local content expands beyond energy

Poland’s government is moving forward with its “Local Content. For the Benefit of Poland” strategy, designed to increase the participation of domestic companies in strategic national investments.

After an initial focus on the energy sector, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) is expected to expand Local Content measurements to the technology and digital economy from 2027. The move could significantly influence future public procurement processes by placing greater emphasis on the economic contribution of suppliers alongside traditional criteria such as price and technical performance.

The policy aims to strengthen domestic value creation through local employment, technology development, tax contributions and resilient supply chains.

Growing importance for maritime and offshore industries

The decision comes as Poland enters a decade of unprecedented investment in offshore wind energy, port infrastructure, defence capabilities, nuclear energy and transport networks.

Digital solutions are becoming increasingly critical across maritime industries, from port management systems and logistics platforms to cybersecurity tools protecting critical infrastructure. Under the Local Content framework, technology providers with a substantial operational footprint in Poland may gain greater recognition in future public projects.

Assessment criteria are expected to include the location of business operations, decision-making centres, employment of local specialists, tax residency and the company’s contribution to the domestic economy.

Digital sovereignty and national security

The strategy reflects a broader European trend linking technological capabilities with economic resilience and national security.

According to Karolina Nazarewicz, Legal Department Manager at ClickMeeting, Local Content is evolving from a broadly defined concept into a measurable economic indicator.

- Public-sector organisations should look beyond the lowest-price criterion and take into account quality, security, service availability and total cost of ownership. This creates opportunities for technology providers that maintain local expertise, support infrastructure and long-term investment in the domestic economy, she said.

The approach is particularly relevant for digital communication platforms, cloud services, data processing solutions and technologies used by public institutions and critical infrastructure operators.

Trillions of zlotys in future investments

The scale of upcoming investments highlights why Local Content has become a strategic priority.

According to Poland’s Ministry of State Assets, energy-sector investments could reach PLN 1 trillion over the next decade. Additional hundreds of billions of zlotys are planned for rail, road and maritime infrastructure projects.

The country’s energy transition alone may require investments worth approximately PLN 3.5 trillion by 2040, while Poland’s first nuclear power plant in Pomerania is estimated at around PLN 190 billion.

A key question for policymakers remains how much of this value will ultimately stay within the Polish economy.

Public confidence in domestic technology

Research conducted for ClickMeeting indicates that 55 per cent of Poles prefer domestically developed technology services and software when given a choice. Furthermore, 62 per cent believe Polish technology solutions are equal to or better than international alternatives, while only 3 per cent rate them lower.

As Poland expands investments in offshore wind, maritime infrastructure and digital transformation, Local Content policies may increasingly shape the role of domestic technology providers in the country’s strategic development.