European industry is currently under immense pressure. Growing competition from Asia, high energy costs, and dependence on suppliers from outside the European Union are creating major challenges for policymakers. In response, the European Commission has introduced initiatives such as the Clean Industrial Deal and the Industrial Accelerator Act. These documents set the direction for action, but it is national policies that will determine which countries can turn the transition into a genuine strengthening of their industrial base and technological sovereignty.

— It is in Poland’s strategic interest to actively participate in the European debate on the future of industry and clean technologies, particularly as work is under way on the EU’s new Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034. The European Commission has already announced significant funding to strengthen the competitiveness of the European economy, support industrial investment and decarbonisation, and develop strategic technologies – notes Dr Joanna Pandera, President of Forum Energii.

Energy transition, clean technologies, and local content

The latest Forum Energii report identifies critical clean industry sectors that Poland should invest in today. Clean technologies reduce the use of energy and materials from non-renewable sources while increasing the use of renewable resources. They include the production of wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, energy storage systems, transformer station components, and heat pumps. The clean technology sector is estimated to grow in value over the next eight years, from PLN 280 billion to PLN 750 billion in 2033 (Market Data Forecast), while according to the NECP, the value of investments in low-carbon energy modernisation through 2040 will amount to PLN 3-3.5 trillion. This sector could determine the shape of Poland’s economy for decades to come and whether Poland becomes a leader or merely an importer of innovative solutions.

The concept of “local content” is also crucial to the development of Poland’s domestic clean technology industry. The Forum Energii report emphasises a narrower definition, referring to production carried out by companies with predominantly Polish ownership. At the same time, it does not disregard the broader interpretation, highlighting the benefits of foreign investment provided that it supports the development of lasting capabilities and supply chains in Poland.

Key findings – how can Poland avoid becoming merely an assembly hub?

The energy transition is a powerful driver of economic development. In the sectors analysed, Poland’s exports increased from EUR 25.9 billion in 2019 to EUR 47.2 billion in 2024.

— The key to success is to make smart choices about strategic areas. “Local content” should mean more than assembly alone. The real benefits emerge when knowledge, intellectual property, design, and servicing remain in the country. This is particularly evident in energy storage and electromobility: despite the large scale of exports, Polish-owned companies generate only 1.8% and 6.5%, respectively, of revenues in these sectors. At the same time, we have sectors where local content is a genuine strength: rail transport, with an almost complete value chain; grid components, where domestic companies have a strong position; and circular economy solutions, which could develop into a domestic specialisation – says Marcin Dusiło, Head of the Industry Programme at Forum Energii.

The greatest risk is fragmentation of efforts. Poland must concentrate support where three conditions come together: rapid market growth, an existing industrial base and a genuine opportunity to develop local content. The Forum Energii report shows that the future of Polish industry depends to a large extent on making smart use of the potential offered by the energy transition. Structural reforms are needed to organise the competencies that have so far been fragmented across the energy and industrial sectors, while industrial policy must be given the highest priority. The way forward should be to develop an integrated industrial strategy covering the clean technology sector, which will identify Poland’s specific “strategic specialisations” and implement the objectives set out in the NECP by defining concrete mechanisms for their operationalisation and implementation.

The role of the state in industrial policy in the clean technology sector is crucial. In the face of growing geopolitical competition and an accelerated energy transition, Poland cannot afford to remain passive. The state should actively shape demand through regulation, public procurement, support programmes and investment decisions, creating a stable regulatory framework that will encourage the private sector to take on technological risk.