Several hundred representatives of technology companies and IT experts from across Poland took part in the ORLEN Suppliers Forum. During the second event in a planned series of regular meetings, the company presented its development priorities and invited technology firms to cooperate with the group.
The forum was another nationwide edition of the “Partners of Tomorrow’s Energy” programme, whose aim is to build long-term dialogue with the market and increase the participation of Polish companies in the implementation of strategic projects across the ORLEN Group. According to the company, the vast majority of participants were new potential service providers for ORLEN.
“We have excellent news for all Poles. Our ambition, which we are already implementing, is to ensure that the share of domestic suppliers in ORLEN’s investments is as high as possible. We are carrying out an investment programme on a scale unprecedented in the history of Poland’s energy sector. By 2035, we will spend up to PLN 380 billion. These are funds that genuinely drive the Polish economy, enabling more companies and entire sectors to grow. Meetings held as part of the ‘Partners of Tomorrow’s Energy’ series are one of the tools for implementing our strategy in this area: building long-term relationships and increasing the involvement of Polish companies in the Group’s projects,” said Ireneusz Fąfara, President of the Management Board of ORLEN.
Digital Transformation and New Technologies in Focus
The IT-focused Suppliers Forum was held in Katowice. The meeting centred on the key directions of IT development within the ORLEN Group. During the event, ORLEN representatives discussed procurement processes in the IT area, rules of cooperation with suppliers and opportunities for technology companies to become involved in projects carried out by the group.
“The ‘Partners of Tomorrow’s Energy’ series is our way of conducting direct dialogue with the supplier market and clearly communicating our procurement needs and cooperation principles. We want companies to be able to prepare in advance for participation in tenders and to better understand our requirements. Meetings such as the IT Suppliers Forum in Katowice facilitate this process and make it possible to move more quickly from discussion to real cooperation,” said Roman Kowszewicz, Executive Director for Procurement at ORLEN.
An important part of the forum was also devoted to technological pilots, ORLEN VC and the ORLEN Skylight accelerator programme, which support the development and implementation of innovative technology solutions.
Participants had the opportunity to speak directly with ORLEN experts in specially prepared networking zones, ask questions, discuss specific challenges and exchange experiences. For ORLEN, the event was also a valuable opportunity to gather key feedback from partners, including information about their needs and expectations.
The meeting also included sessions on the practical aspects of cooperation with the ORLEN Group, from preparing offers and participating in procurement procedures to supplier assessment and the development of joint technology projects.
A Platform for Practical Dialogue with the Market
As part of its “Tomorrow’s Energy Starts Today” strategy, ORLEN is pursuing a digital transformation that includes the development of data environments, cloud solutions and the use of artificial intelligence. The company also places strong emphasis on cybersecurity.
“Digital transformation is one of ORLEN’s key development directions and includes large-scale, complex projects that require close cooperation with technology partners. We want to work together with suppliers to develop solutions that respond to the needs of an organisation of this size, from system integration and data work to the implementation of modern technologies. The forum in Katowice provides a space to discuss these areas and cooperation opportunities,” said Michał Furman, Executive Director for Digital Transformation and IT at ORLEN.
A Long-Term Supplier Cooperation Programme
The “Partners of Tomorrow’s Energy” programme was launched in response to the scale of investments being carried out by the ORLEN Group. By 2035, the value of planned investments may reach around PLN 380 billion. This means growing demand for technologies, expertise and execution capabilities across many areas of the group’s operations.
The Suppliers Forum in Katowice was another edition of the meeting series held under the programme, which was launched in April this year in Płock. In its next stages, the programme will also cover areas including logistics, transport and major investment projects implemented by the ORLEN Group.
