Poland stands at a pivotal moment in its economic and political development. The strategic decisions made today will shape the country’s future for decades. Prioritizing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), investing in cutting-edge technologies, building industrial capacity—including defense—and simplifying legal frameworks are essential steps to make Poland more independent, prosperous, and secure. Below, I outline the key reasons why this direction is critical.

1. STEM and Technical Education: The Foundation of Innovation

Investing in STEM and enhancing technical universities such as the Military University of Technology (WAT) is a necessity. Leading technological powers like the United States, Germany, South Korea, and Japan owe their success to their engineers, programmers, physicists, and chemists. Why is this so important?

• Innovation drives economic growth: Technological advancements are the primary engine of economic development.
• Military superiority requires advanced technologies: Drones, missile defense systems, and artificial intelligence are reshaping modern warfare.
• Skilled specialists fuel industrial growth: Designing, testing, and implementing new solutions depend on a strong technical workforce.

Poland must strengthen its technical universities and attract top talent by offering financial support and world-class research facilities. These institutions will lay the groundwork for industries of the future.

2. Building a Modern Industrial Base

Having a robust industrial base, particularly in defense, is key to economic and military independence. Importing critical technologies creates dependencies that could become liabilities during crises. By contrast, investments in local industry offer multiple benefits:

• Developing supply chains: Modern industry supports local suppliers, creating jobs in sectors like raw material extraction, transportation, and advanced manufacturing.
• Higher value-added economy: Producing technologically advanced goods generates greater profits than exporting raw materials or low-cost products.
• National security: A domestic defense industry ensures a steady supply of arms without risks of embargoes or delays.

Example: The Success of Telesystem-Mesko

The Piorun missile system, developed by Telesystem-Mesko with critical contributions from WAT’s Institute of Optoelectronics, is a testament to what Poland can achieve. Widely regarded as the world’s top portable air-defense missile, it showcases the power of combining academic expertise with industrial capability.

3. Simplifying Legal Frameworks

Poland’s current legal system is overly complex and outdated, often hindering innovation and investment. This is exacerbated by the prevalence of politicians with humanities backgrounds, many of whom are remnants of the PRL era, like those in the Ministry of Digital Affairs. For Poland to thrive:

• Simpler, transparent laws are needed: These encourage entrepreneurship and reduce corruption.
• Accelerated administrative processes: Faster decisions enable timely execution of technology and infrastructure projects.
• Alignment with modern needs: Regulations should support innovation, startups, and advanced industries, rather than imposing barriers.

4. Strengthening Logistics and Economic Security

Recent global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, have highlighted vulnerabilities in international supply chains. To address this, Poland must:

• Localize key production: Establishing critical industries within the country reduces dependence on imports.
• Enhance logistics infrastructure: Modern ports, railways, and roads ensure efficient transportation domestically and abroad.
• Achieve energy independence: Investing in renewable energy and nuclear power will shield Poland from global commodity price fluctuations.

5. National Prosperity and Citizen Well-Being

These efforts will collectively contribute to greater wealth for the country and its people. A modern economy:

• Creates higher-paying jobs: Especially in technology-driven sectors.
• Increases government revenues: Enabling more investment in education, healthcare, and defense.
• Raises living standards: Through improved infrastructure and services.

Conclusion

Investing in STEM, technology, and industrial development, while simplifying legal frameworks, is not just a pathway to economic growth—it is the key to Poland’s independence and national security. Building a knowledge-based economy will enable Poland to become a leader in Europe, ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The success of innovations like the Piorun missile proves Poland’s potential. By scaling such achievements and addressing systemic barriers, Poland can secure a prosperous and secure future.