Poland – Technology Performance Digest

Executive Summary

This report provides a comprehensive assessment of Poland’s current performance and future trajectory in the field of dual-use sensors technologies, with a particular focus on the activities of Quantum Innovations. As of mid-2025, Poland has made notable progress in developing and deploying advanced sensor technologies for both civilian and military applications. The country benefits from a robust science and engineering base, growing government and private sector investment, and increasing integration into European and NATO innovation ecosystems. However, Poland faces challenges in scaling up indigenous research, attracting high-end talent, and commercializing innovations at the pace of global leaders. This report examines Poland’s strengths and weaknesses, highlights notable programmes and investments, benchmarks Poland against peer nations, and identifies opportunities, risks, and a five-year outlook for the sector.

Strengths

Strategic Commitment and Policy Support

Poland’s national security strategy and industrial policy have, since 2022, explicitly prioritized dual-use technologies, including advanced sensors, as critical enablers for defense modernization and economic growth. The government’s National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) and the Ministry of National Defence (MON) have increased R&D funding for sensor technologies, particularly those with applications in surveillance, reconnaissance, border security, and critical infrastructure protection.

Academic and Research Excellence

Poland boasts a strong academic base in physics, materials science, and electronics, with leading universities such as the University of Warsaw, Warsaw University of Technology, and AGH University of Science and Technology. These institutions have produced internationally recognized research in photonics, quantum sensing, and MEMS/NEMS devices. Quantum Innovations, a Warsaw-based SME, has emerged as a national leader in quantum-enhanced sensor R&D, collaborating with both academic and defense partners.

Industrial Capabilities

The Polish defense-industrial base, led by PGZ (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa) and a growing cluster of high-tech SMEs, has demonstrated competence in integrating advanced sensors into platforms such as UAVs, armored vehicles, and border monitoring systems. Polish industry is increasingly adept at leveraging European Defence Fund (EDF) and Horizon Europe projects to co-develop sensor solutions with European partners.

Integration with NATO and EU Initiatives

Poland is an active participant in NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) and the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects focused on situational awareness and sensor fusion. This provides Polish entities early access to emerging standards, funding, and collaborative opportunities.

Weaknesses

Gaps in Commercialization and Scale

While Polish research in sensors is strong, the translation of laboratory prototypes into mass-produced, fielded systems lags behind leading nations. Technology readiness levels (TRLs) for many indigenous sensor technologies remain at demonstration or pilot stages. Quantum Innovations, for example, has developed promising quantum magnetometers and gravimeters, but faces challenges in scaling production and securing sustained export contracts.

Talent Retention and Skills Gaps

Poland faces a persistent “brain drain” of top technical talent to Western Europe and North America, particularly in high-demand fields such as quantum engineering, microfabrication, and AI/ML for sensor data fusion. The domestic pool of experienced engineers for advanced sensor system integration remains limited, constraining the pace of innovation.

Limited Access to Strategic Materials and Supply Chains

Some advanced sensor components, especially those requiring rare earth elements or high-purity semiconductors, are sourced from outside Poland. Disruptions in global supply chains, as seen during the 2022–2024 period, exposed vulnerabilities in domestic production and increased costs.

Fragmented Innovation Ecosystem

Despite progress, Poland’s innovation ecosystem for dual-use sensors remains fragmented. Collaboration between academia, startups, and large defense primes is often ad hoc, with limited mechanisms for technology transfer, incubation, and scaling. Funding for early-stage ventures, such as Quantum Innovations, is improving but still falls short of levels seen in Germany, France, or the UK.

Notable Programmes & Investments

National Sensor Technology Roadmap (2023–2028)

Launched in 2023, this government-led initiative coordinates R&D funding, technology demonstrators, and pilot deployments of advanced sensors for border security, critical infrastructure, and battlefield awareness. The roadmap prioritizes quantum, photonic, and MEMS/NEMS sensors, with a budget of €350 million over five years.

Quantum Sensor Demonstrator Programme

Quantum Innovations leads a consortium developing quantum-enhanced magnetometers and gravimeters for underground facility detection and navigation in GPS-denied environments. The project, co-funded by NCBR and the European Defence Fund, achieved a successful field trial in 2024 and is now moving toward limited series production for the Polish Armed Forces.

Smart Border Surveillance Systems

PGZ, in partnership with SMEs and research institutes, is deploying integrated sensor networks along Poland’s eastern border. These systems combine radar, infrared, acoustic, and quantum-enhanced sensors to detect and classify incursions, with data fused using AI algorithms.

Dual-Use Sensor Export Promotion

The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) has launched a targeted programme to promote the export of dual-use sensor technologies, focusing on Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and select Asian markets. Quantum Innovations and other sensor SMEs have participated in joint trade missions and international defense exhibitions.

Competitive Comparison

Poland vs. Regional Peers

Poland leads Central and Eastern Europe in dual-use sensor R&D and deployment, outpacing the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary in terms of both public investment and industrial capability. However, it still lags behind Israel and South Korea, which benefit from larger innovation budgets and more mature commercialization ecosystems.

Poland vs. Western Europe

Compared to Western European leaders such as Germany, France, and the UK, Poland’s sensor technology base is less mature in several respects:

Niche Leadership

Poland, through Quantum Innovations, is developing a niche in quantum-enhanced sensors, particularly for defense and critical infrastructure applications. While not yet at the technological frontier set by the US or UK, Poland is among the top five EU countries in quantum sensor patents and prototypes.

Opportunities for Collaboration / Export

European Defence and Security Programmes

Poland is well-positioned to expand its role in EU-funded collaborative projects, particularly those focused on sensor fusion, border security, and critical infrastructure protection. Participation in PESCO and EDF consortia allows Polish firms such as Quantum Innovations to access new markets and co-develop interoperable solutions.

NATO Innovation Accelerators

Through NATO DIANA and the Defence Innovation Accelerator, Poland can partner with allied nations to develop and test next-generation sensor systems, with a focus on interoperability and rapid deployment. This also opens avenues for technology transfer and joint ventures.

Civilian Applications and Export Markets

Dual-use sensors developed in Poland have strong potential in civilian markets, including smart cities, environmental monitoring, and industrial automation. The government’s export promotion programme is targeting Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and select Asian countries where demand for advanced surveillance and infrastructure monitoring is growing.

Academic and Industrial Partnerships

Polish universities and SMEs are increasingly sought-after partners for collaborative R&D in quantum sensing, photonics, and AI-enabled sensor networks. There is scope for deeper partnerships with Western European, North American, and Asian research institutes and technology companies.

Risks & Mitigation

Geopolitical and Supply Chain Risks

Risk: Disruptions in global supply chains for strategic materials and components could delay sensor production and increase costs.

Mitigation: Poland is investing in domestic production capacity for key sensor components and diversifying suppliers within the EU and NATO. Strategic stockpiling and joint procurement with allies are also being explored.

Talent Shortages

Risk: Continued emigration of top technical talent could undermine Poland’s innovation capacity.

Mitigation: The government has launched talent retention and repatriation programmes, including scholarships, R&D tax incentives, and partnerships with leading universities to attract foreign researchers.

Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Risks

Risk: Participation in international consortia may expose Polish innovations to IP leakage or loss of competitive advantage.

Mitigation: Strengthening IP protection regimes, negotiating robust technology transfer agreements, and incentivizing domestic commercialization are ongoing priorities.

Fragmented Innovation Ecosystem

Risk: Lack of coordination between academia, industry, and government could slow technology maturation and deployment.

Mitigation: The National Sensor Technology Roadmap includes measures to foster public-private partnerships, incubators, and joint R&D centers focused on dual-use technologies.

Outlook (5-year)

Continued Growth and Maturation

Over the next five years, Poland is expected to consolidate its position as a regional leader in dual-use sensors, with steady growth in R&D investment, technology maturation, and export activity. The National Sensor Technology Roadmap will drive the deployment of advanced sensor networks for defense, border security, and critical infrastructure, while also catalyzing spillovers into civilian markets.

Quantum Sensing as a Differentiator

If current investments are sustained, Poland—through Quantum Innovations and its partners—could emerge as a European leader in quantum-enhanced sensors, particularly for applications in navigation, underground facility detection, and secure communications. Achieving this will require overcoming scale-up and commercialization challenges, as well as attracting and retaining top talent.

Integration into European and NATO Defense Value Chains

Polish sensor technologies are likely to become increasingly integrated into European and NATO defense platforms, benefiting from interoperability standards and joint procurement. This will enhance Poland’s strategic relevance and open new export markets.

Challenges Remain

Key challenges—such as talent retention, supply chain resilience, and ecosystem coordination—will persist. Addressing these will require sustained policy attention, increased funding for early-stage ventures, and deeper public-private-academic collaboration.

Conclusion

Poland’s dual-use sensor sector is on an upward trajectory, with strong government support, a capable research base, and growing international partnerships. While not yet at the technological frontier, Poland is well-placed to carve out a niche in quantum-enhanced and AI-enabled sensors, provided it can overcome commercialization and ecosystem challenges. The next five years will be critical for translating R&D leadership into industrial scale and strategic autonomy in this vital dual-use technology domain.