The inaugural edition of the “Polish Defense Industry Forum” took place in March. According to the organizer, in addition to representatives of the military sector, approximately 400 private-sector companies also participated in the event.
About the Event
The forum was held on March 5, 2025, at the PGE Narodowy in Warsaw. A renowned Polish defense contractor— Polish Defense Group.
The event was held under the honorary patronage of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of State Assets, which is a clear sign of growing interest in defense issues on the part of state institutions. As previously reported, investment in similar initiatives was announced by, among others, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego.
Among the most well-known companies that sent representatives to the conference were, among others, JELCZ Sp. z o.o., Rosomak S.A. and Stomil – Poznań S.A. Also present were representatives of companies providing services directly to the Polish Armed Forces, such as Military Aviation Works No. 1 and Military Armaments Works S.A.
Top Topics
According to information provided by the organizer, the event has been divided into two main segments:
- Panel Discussion dedicated to the current and future state of the defense industry, as well as the potential challenges it may face,
- Workshop Session, during which participants were shown how to enter the defense industry, with a presentation covering both its current needs and legal requirements.
In turn, according to an analysis published by the daily newspaper Głos Wielkopolski, the panel discussion focused on four main topics:
- The Impact of the Defense Sector on the National Economy,
- Public-private partnerships,
- Topics related to the program "Tarcza Wschód",
- Prospects for the Development of the Polish Defense Industry.
The second point seems particularly interesting—mainly due to the large number of representatives from public institutions in attendance. Establishing a formal partnership with the government can be an attractive opportunity for many companies, especially since, for publicly traded companies, the mere announcement of such initiatives can be of significant importance. At the same time, the public sector also benefits from this type of collaboration—primarily through the opportunity for faster and increased funding compared to traditional budgetary procedures.
The Development of European Defense
During the Forum, the Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Minister of National Defense — Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz — also addressed the Forum. He confirmed the growing need in recent months to strengthen European security, which is to be reflected, among other things, in the development of the defense industry and investments in modern dual-use technologies.
The minister also noted that he is counting on changes in fiscal policy that—in his view—would allow Europe, and Poland in particular, to establish “full-fledged defense program”—one that is fully sovereign in terms of both production and the supply chain.
The official summary of the event also mentioned presentations prepared by military representatives, aimed at providing private companies with details about the Eastern Shieldprogram and, above all, to outline potential avenues for involvement as subcontractors.
It is also worth quoting a statement by Konrad Gołota, Undersecretary of State at the the Ministry of State Assets, who emphasized that “Poland has significant potential to become a leader in the region,” provided it continues to develop consistently in the designated direction. He also announced that Polish diplomacy plans to take steps aimed at expanding the network of international economic ties.
Summary
The Forum that has just taken place clearly illustrates the direction in which cooperation between the government and the business sector is heading in the area of national security. The presence of key public institutions—including the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the forefront—was not limited to merely providing patronage for the event, but also extended to active participation in discussions with the private sector.
The participation of companies from outside the traditional defense sector points to a growing awareness of the benefits of building industrial infrastructure through new forms of cooperation. Such initiatives not only contribute to the diversification of the domestic supply chain but also accelerate investment and development processes, boosting innovation in the defense sector to the benefit of both the public and private sectors.