Microsoft has announced its plan to invest PLN 2.8 billion ($730 million) by the end of June 2026 in expanding its hyperscale cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in Poland. The tech giant also plans to collaborate with Poland’s national defense department with the aim of enhancing the country’s cybersecurity capabilities.
The investment will support the expansion of existing data centers, introducing a broader range of Azure services to meet customer demand in the region. The primary aim of this project is to speed up the implementation of AI and cloud computing technology, boost the country’s economic competitiveness by encouraging the development and adoption of digital technologies, enable its citizens to acquire AI skills, and create job opportunities in the expanding digital sector.
“This is an investment in our future, in our security, in our young people, in our startups, in our academics,” said Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland. “It’s an investment that will provide Poles, especially the younger generation, with access to the latest tech tools and opportunities offered by the world’s leaders. (…) Mutual trust and the ability to operate in challenging areas such as cybersecurity are important. (…) In addition to providing tools, funds, and investments, and collaborating with our people and companies, Microsoft will also be running AI training programs in Poland. I’m delighted to find out that work on the Polish language model Bielik is also promising. These initiatives not only signify our aspirations but also highlight the importance of Poland in these processes and the strong technological and intellectual capabilities of our academics and IT specialists,” said Prime Minister Tusk.
Enhancing National Cybersecurity
According to the latest edition of the Microsoft Digital Defense report, Poland ranks third in Europe and ninth globally in terms of the number of cyber attacks sponsored by foreign states. The challenges facing countries in this part of Europe are escalating, including the security of Poland’s upcoming presidential elections, highlighting the increasing need for well-defined actions to protect citizens from cyber threats.
In collaboration with the national defense department, Microsoft will establish a framework for activities aimed at strengthening national cybersecurity, which includes developing artificial intelligence competencies and deploying breakthrough technologies like cloud processing, AI, and quantum technologies.
“We recognize the influential role Poland plays in the European Union, and we are committed to assisting in its cyber protection and cyber resilience,” said Brad Smith, the president of Microsoft. “Microsoft’s investment in data centers is a vote of confidence in Polish leadership and economy. Our goal is to bring the most advanced AI infrastructure to all sectors of the Polish economy, thus strengthening the country’s economic competitiveness.”
Microsoft’s Commitment to Enhancing Poland’s Economy and International Competitiveness
In April 2023, Microsoft opened its first cloud data processing region in Poland, and also the first in Central and Eastern Europe, in response to the high demand of Polish organizations for trusted and scalable corporate-level cloud solutions. Customers from various industries in Poland, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and retail, are already benefiting from the cloud technology.
Besides employing full-time employees and contractors to manage and serve the Polish cloud region, the investment constitutes a continuous, capital-intensive, and long-term endeavor for the local community and the region. This involves sourcing from local and Central European engineering and building services providers, network equipment and cooling, energy procurement, and a wide range of operational equipment and materials.
With the visible effects of AI development and the fact that 61% of employees in Poland use generative artificial intelligence daily, as per the Microsoft Work Trend Index report, nearly 70% of Polish leaders believe their company must adopt AI to remain competitive.
To ensure Polish workers have the necessary skills to remain competitive, Microsoft has pledged to train a million Polish IT workers, teachers, higher education lecturers, software developers, and organizational leaders by the end of 2025. This training will focus on skills and opportunities that can help accelerate the digital transformation in Poland across different sectors. The Microsoft initiative on AI skills education is focused on teaching digital proficiency in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, building digital capabilities of institutions and organizations, and facilitating workforce integration. This is a continuation of the company’s previous effort after having trained 430,000 individuals in Poland on digital skills between 2020 and 2023.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/microsoft-zainwestuje-w-polsce-28-mld-zl-rozwoj-chmury-ai-i-cyberbezpieczenstwa-79631
