More than 230 business services centres are now operating in Pomerania, employing over 42,000 people. In recent years, the region has increasingly attracted investments that go beyond traditional shared services centres, with a growing number of projects focused on software development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and research and development.
These are among the findings of the report “GBS Next Stop: Tricity”, prepared by KPMG in Poland in cooperation with Invest in Pomerania, an initiative coordinated by the Pomerania Development Agency.
Today, the Tricity area is one of Poland’s largest Global Business Services (GBS) hubs. In terms of employment, the region ranks fourth nationwide. Its defining feature is the high share of centres specialising in IT and research and development, with these two areas already accounting for nearly 60% of the local market.
The development of Pomerania’s GBS sector has followed a different path from that seen in Poland’s other major business services locations. Alongside the expansion of service centres, the region has built a strong base for the maritime economy, offshore energy, logistics and advanced technology manufacturing. As a result, the local business ecosystem is more diversified than in most other large service-sector destinations.
Over the past decade, Tricity has established itself as one of the most important modern business services hubs in Central and Eastern Europe. As the sector shifts towards knowledge-intensive functions, data analysis and artificial intelligence, demand for highly skilled professionals is increasing.
“This shows that the region has become a place where projects of growing importance to global organisations are being delivered. Today, Pomerania’s attractiveness is determined not only by infrastructure or operating costs, but above all by access to skills, a strong academic base and the region’s ability to support the most advanced business processes,” said Piotr Jarosz, Associate Partner in KPMG in Poland’s Shared Services and Outsourcing Advisory Team.
Fewer Basic Processes, More Specialist Capabilities
The report shows that the character of the sector’s growth in Pomerania is changing. Business services centres operating in the region are increasingly responsible for functions requiring specialist expertise, ranging from data analytics and product development to digital transformation and AI-based solutions.
This represents a shift away from a model based primarily on operational processes towards functions of strategic importance for international organisations.
Since 2023, 39 new investment projects have been completed in the region. More than 60% of them were related to IT and R&D activities. At the same time, the number of reinvestment projects is growing. These are investments carried out by companies already present in Pomerania.
They account for around one-third of all new projects, indicating that businesses are choosing to expand their operations in the region rather than relocate them elsewhere.
The structure of new investments has also changed since 2023. Around 75% of projects launched in the region originated from European Union countries, reflecting the growing importance of nearshoring. More companies are choosing to locate advanced business functions closer to their European markets and customers.
Talent, Universities and Quality of Life as Key Advantages
One of the region’s most important strengths remains access to skilled employees. Around 92,000 students are enrolled at universities in Pomerania, while nearly 20,000 graduates enter the labour market every year.
The region also benefits from well-developed business and transport infrastructure. It offers more than one million square metres of modern office space and is home to one of the fastest-growing airports in Central Europe.
Quality of life is also becoming increasingly important for investors, as it affects companies’ ability to attract and retain specialists.
“Just a few years ago, investors were primarily asking about operating costs and the availability of employees. Today, discussions focus on long-term access to talent, energy security, the regulatory environment and opportunities to develop centres of competence. This shows how expectations towards investment locations have changed and how far Pomerania has come,” said Marcin Grzegory, Deputy Director at Invest in Pomerania.
Despite the increasing share of European investments, US companies remain the largest employers in the business services sector. American businesses operate 38 service centres in Tricity, employing around 10,000 people, or roughly one-quarter of all workers in the sector.
Proximity to Scandinavia Supports New Investments
The report also highlights Tricity’s geographical location as one of its distinguishing advantages. Economic links with the Nordic countries, combined with well-developed port and logistics infrastructure, make the region a natural location for investments serving Northern European markets.
This also translates into growing demand for specialists with language skills and experience in international markets.
According to the report, the coming years will be shaped by projects based on advanced technologies, automation and artificial intelligence. Tricity already has the talent base and business infrastructure needed to develop such investments and strengthen its position as one of Europe’s leading centres for knowledge-based business services.
