Microsoft is committing to a significant investment of PLN 2.8 billion— roughly equivalent to $700 million USD — by June 2026 to expand its hyperscale cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in Poland. The tech giant also announced a collaboration with Polish National Defense to bolster the country’s national cybersecurity framework.
The investment will primarily go towards enhancing the existing data center campuses, offering an expanded selection of Azure services. This move aims to support the growing regional demand for these advanced technologies. The company is keen on accelerating the adoption of AI and cloud technologies, thereby enhancing Poland’s economic competitiveness by stimulating the development and adoption of digital technology, equipping Polish citizens with skills to put AI to use, and creating new jobs in the country’s growing digital sector.
“This is an investment in our future, our security, our youth, our startups, and our scholars,” said Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland. “This is an investment that will provide Poles, especially the younger generation, with access to the most modern tools and opportunities offered by the best in the world. (…) This mutual trust and the fact that we can operate in the most challenging areas, such as cybersecurity. (…) Microsoft will also be conducting AI training in Poland. Tools, money, and investments are important, as is cooperation with our people and companies, but we will achieve the desired effects also by taking advantage of training opportunities. I am pleased to hear that the work on the Polish language model – Bielik – is progressing so well. It is not only a matter of aspirations but also something that indicates Poland’s importance in these processes and the high technical and intellectual skills of our staff – scientists and IT specialists,” said Donald Tusk.
Strengthening National Cybersecurity
According to the latest Microsoft Digital Defense report, Poland faces notable cybersecurity challenges, ranking 3rd in Europe and 9th globally in terms of exposure to attacks from cybercriminal organizations backed by foreign nations. These threats, alongside the security concerns surrounding the upcoming presidential elections, have spurred a need for proactive measures to safeguard citizens from cyber threats.
To address this, Microsoft is partnering with Polish National Defense to establish a comprehensive framework for strengthening national cybersecurity. Key aspects include the development of AI competencies and the application of emerging disruptive technologies like cloud computing, AI, and quantum computing. “We appreciate the critical role that Poland plays in the European Union, and we are committed to helping to protect its cybersecurity and cyber resilience,” stated Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft. “Microsoft’s data center investment is a vote of confidence in Poland’s leadership and economy. Our goal is to bring the most advanced AI infrastructure to every sector of the Polish economy, strengthening the nation’s economic competitiveness.”
Commitment to Poland’s Economy and Global Competitiveness
Microsoft’s Polish datacenter region, which opened in April 2023, serves as the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. The company had decided to set up infrastructure in Poland because of the robust demand for dependable, scalable enterprise-grade cloud solutions from various Polish organizations. Customers across numerous sectors in Poland, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and retail, are already benefiting from cloud technology.
Beyond direct employment, data center investments also represent an ongoing capital-intensive commitment to local communities and regions. This includes sourcing from local and Central European suppliers for services and equipment. The positive effects of AI are already becoming apparent, with 61% of Polish workers using generative AI daily. Furthermore, nearly 70% of Polish leaders believe that their company needs to implement AI to remain competitive.
To ensure Poland’s workforce remains competitive, Microsoft is committed to helping 1 million Polish information workers, educators, software developers, and organizational leaders acquire the skills needed to drive Poland’s digital transformation by the end of 2025. This AI skilling initiative entails training in digital AI proficiency, cybersecurity, institutional digital capacity building, and workforce integration. Between 2020 and 2023, Microsoft already trained 430,000 people in Poland in digital skills.
To promote equitable access to technology and digital skills, Microsoft has a long-standing commitment to providing discounted software to Polish educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and public libraries. Over the past year, these contributions exceeded $80 million in Poland. This includes solutions like Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat in Microsoft 365 Education, AI-powered Learning Accelerators, Microsoft Teams for Education, and accessibility tools designed to empower all learners, as well as Azure, Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365, and more for nonprofit organizations across the country.
Responsible and Sustainable AI Advancement
Sustainability is a key priority for Microsoft, reflected in its ambitious targets to become a carbon-negative, water-positive, and zero-waste company by 2030. The company designs, builds, and operates cloud computing infrastructure. Microsoft has taken a proactive approach to using and planning carbon-free electricity, making long-term investments to bring more carbon-free electricity onto the grids where it operates. The company has contracted over 34 GW of renewable energy across 24 countries, marking progress toward accelerating renewable energy markets and supporting the global energy transition. In Poland, Microsoft has started to execute Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for renewable energy and is pursuing additional contractual opportunities.
These ongoing commitments build upon Microsoft’s 32-year partnership with Poland. The goal is to invest not just in cloud and AI infrastructure, but also in the broader ecosystem to support the development of the Polish Digital Valley, boosting Poland’s competitiveness and resilience.
