Google and Microsoft have made headlines with their plans to invest billions of dollars into Poland’s IT sector. These investments are focused on accelerating Poland’s digital transformation, while also advancing innovations in AI and cybersecurity. Google’s commitment involves a significant financial boost, while Microsoft has announced a $700 million investment to strengthen its cloud and cybersecurity.

Google Expanding Cloud and AI Capabilities in Poland

Google has long been at the forefront of investment in Poland, consistently expanding. As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance Poland’s role in the global digital economy, the company has focused on several key initiatives, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital skills development. The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Google and the Polish Development Fund marks another important milestone in this journey.

Google’s Presence and Expansion in Poland

Since establishing itself in Poland in 2005, Google has continuously expanded its footprint, with offices in Warsaw, Kraków, and Wrocław. Today, the company employs over 2,000 professionals across various fields, from software engineering to AI research. This long-term commitment has played a crucial role in shaping Poland’s position as a key innovation hub in Europe. However, the list of investemnts is much longer than the latest Memorandium.

One of Google’s landmark investments in Poland was the launch of the Google Cloud region in Warsaw in 2021 – the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. This strategic move provided local businesses with cutting-edge cloud computing solutions, reinforcing Poland’s role in the global digital economy. A year later, Google announced plans for an additional investment of approximately PLN 2.7 billion to expand and further develop the Warsaw HUB office complex.

Now, in 2025, we are witnessing yet another significant investment.

New Partnerships in AI Sector

On February 13, 2025, Google, the Polish Development Fund (PFR), and the National Cloud Operator (OChK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate AI adoption in Poland. This partnership aims to integrate AI solutions into sectors such as energy and cybersecurity, with projections indicating an 8% increase in Poland’s GDP.

Within the next 120-180 days, Google and its partners will develop a detailed strategy for implementing AI-driven innovations. This initiative is expected to further solidify Poland’s role as a key innovation hub in Central and Eastern Europe, attracting additional global investments.

“I am grateful for the signing of this memorandum between Google and the Polish Development Fund. We are creating a framework that will also allow for greater Google investment in Poland,” said the Prime Minister Donald Tusk, during the meeting.

Investments in Digital Skills and Startups

Google is committed to helping Polish companies and workers adapt to the digital future. The company plans to train an additional one million poles, providing them with the skills needed to develop and use AI-based solutions.

Beyond training, Google will support Polish startups through programs like Google for Startups, access to Google Cloud infrastructure, and funding from the Google.org grant system.

“We talked about the enormous opportunities for Poland in artificial intelligence. Leadership, ambition, and talent are giving Poland a new position in European innovation. Poland is currently the largest engineering hub, with over 2,000 employees. Google has been building Poland’s tech ecosystem for more than 20 years,” said Sundar Pichai during his latest visit in Warsaw.

Initially, it was announced that the funding allocated for these training programs would be $5 million. This figure raised concerns and sparked widespread discussion, with many expressing skepticism about the scale and significance of the collaboration. However, it was later clarified that the actual amount was higher. Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, confirmed a commitment amounting to “billions of dollars.”

Microsoft Focuses on Poland’s Cybersecurity

From major financial commitments to large-scale training programs, Microsoft plays a vital role in shaping Poland’s digital future. Recent investments focus on enhancing computational power, strengthening cloud infrastructure, and improving AI capabilities. However, cybersecurity remains a top priority, with Microsoft partnering with the Polish military to develop cutting-edge defense solutions.

Investments and Trainings for Polish Programmers

Microsoft has also been deeply invested in Poland’s digital future. The company has maintained a strong presence in the country since the 1990s, with its headquarters located in Warsaw. In this decade alone, the company has launched many initiatives to support the Polish IT sector. In 2020, Microsoft announced a record $1 billion investment to build a state-of-the-art data center region in Poland.

Beyond new Warsaw Hub, Microsoft has actively collaborated with Polish businesses and government institutions to enhance cybersecurity and AI capabilities. To ensure Poland’s workforce stays competitive, Microsoft has committed to training 1 million Polish workers in digital skills by the end of 2025. Also in earler years, between 2020 and 2023, Microsoft trained 430,000 people in Poland in digital skills. 

Recently, on February 17th, during a meeting in Warsaw with Donald Tusk, the company’s CEO, Brad Smith announced yet another major investment. The current investments will focus on increasing computational power in Poland and Central Europe. This will benefit thousands of Polish scientists, managers, and startup owners, as the increase in computational power will lead to better data centers, faster and more stable cloud services, and enhanced AI support. Brad Smith emphasized that a third and final phase would follow next.

Cybersecurity as a Main Interest

However, a major focus of Microsoft’s investment is cybersecurity. Brad Smith stated that collaboration with the Polish military aims to enhance Poland’s cybersecurity capabilities through the development of AI competencies and the optimization of groundbreaking technologies.

The $700 million investment will be used primarily to strengthen Poland’s cybersecurity in partnership with the Polish Armed Forces. This collaboration is crucial, as Poland ranks third in Europe and ninth globally in terms of vulnerability to cyberattacks. The increasing challenges to security, including the protection of upcoming presidential elections, are driving Poland’s need for advanced solutions to protect citizens from cyber threats.

The Future of AI and DeepTech in Poland

Poland has immense potential in the creation, development, and implementation of artificial intelligence. The country is one of the largest sources of IT talent in Europe, with over 400,000 specialists in the field. 

Google and Microsoft Investments in Poland are not the only ones we should pay attention to. The Digitalization Strategy for 2025-2035 allocates 5% of the country’s GDP for this purpose. The latest investments include: 

• The construction of Poland’s fastest AI supercomputer in Kraków, supported by PLN 140 million from the government. 
• Another AI factory will be built in Poznań, with PLN 200 million in government funding. 
• A DeepTech fund worth PLN 300 million will be established to ensure the development of cybersecurity, space technologies, and artificial intelligence. 

With billions of dollars in investments and a strong commitment to the Polish market, Google and Microsoft are shaping the future of AI and cybersecurity in the region. As Polish developers continue to gain international recognition, the country’s role in the global digital economy is set to expand.

Main Photo Source: KPRM | 2025.02.13 Spotkanie z CEO Alphabet i Google | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0