The future of AI in Poland: key takeaways from our open meeting with Professor Piotr Sankowski

On February 27th, AI Chamber CEE had the privilege of hosting an open discussion with Professor Piotr Sankowski at the iconic Rotunda PKO BP. As a leading AI researcher from the University of Warsaw and CSA MIM Solutions, and now the head of the newly established IDEAS Research Institute, Professor Sankowski brought invaluable insights into the future of artificial intelligence in Poland.

Poland has the talent, but are we doing enough to support AI innovation? According to Professor Sankowski, the answer is clear: We need to scale up fast:

“There are simply too few startups in Poland. We have brilliant engineers but lack the commercial mindset to turn ideas into market-ready products. We must bridge this gap.” – he emphasized.

This is where the new IDEAS Research Institute comes in. The challenge is to ensure that this initiative delivers groundbreaking research that translates into real-word impact. With a budget of PLN 20 million and backing from both the Ministry of Digital Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence, the institute aims to:

• develop cutting-edge tools for defense and public administration,
• focus on AI, computer vision, NLP, and computer graphics,
• retain top AI talent in Poland by fostering groundbreaking research.

Key insights from the discussion:

1) The role of government: AI needs long-term state support, similar to Germany’s multi-layered AI strategy focused on technology transfer.

2) Bridging academia and business: scientific research in Poland is too theoretical, while businesses invest too little in R&D. More funding needs to go into IP-generating innovation, not just cost reduction.

3) Poland’s AI niche: The next decade will be unpredictable – that’s why we need a long-term vision rather than just reacting to trends. Specialization is key – it is nearly impossible to predict which AI technologies will dominate the market in the next 10 years or which will become the most profitable. That’s why Poland must invest strategically and instead of merely following what’s happening now, we must create a long-term vision that fosters sustainable AI development and positions Poland as a leader in selected AI specializations.

4) AI & Defense: Given our geopolitical reality, AI-driven defense solutions should be a top priority ensuring technological sovereignty and security. Unlike other areas, defense AI faces fewer regulatory roadblocks, making it a strategic opportunity.

5) Less regulation, more innovation: overregulation is a major obstacle, especially in fields like AI-powered medicine, where excessive compliance costs slow progress. Companies are forced to hire entire compliance teams just to navigate legal complexities, making innovation expensive and time-consuming. Poland should push for AI-friendly policies that encourage rapid experimentation and deployment.

6) Now is a critical moment for AI: “We are at a turning point where AI systems will soon surpass human intelligence. If Poland doesn’t invest in AI now, we won’t just fall behind in tech – we’ll fall behind altogether.” – said Piotr Sankowski.