Microsoft has announced plans to invest PLN2.8 billion (€673 million) in Poland to expand its cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure by June 2026, strengthening the country's position in digital technology and cybersecurity.

The investment will support the growth of existing data centre campuses around Warsaw, where Microsoft launched its first cloud computing region for Central and Eastern Europe in 2023. The expansion aims to meet growing regional demand for Azure services and enhance Poland's digital capabilities.

"This is an investment in our future, our security, our youth, our startups, and our scholars," said Donald Tusk, prime minister of Poland. "This investment will provide Poles, especially the younger generation, with access to the most modern tools and opportunities offered by the best in the world."

As part of the initiative, Microsoft will partner with Polish National Defense to strengthen national cybersecurity. This collaboration comes as Poland ranks third in Europe and ninth globally for exposure to state-sponsored cybercriminal attacks, according to Microsoft's Digital Defense report.

Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, emphasised the strategic importance of the investment: "Microsoft's data centre 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."

The company has also committed to training one million Polish information workers, teachers, higher-education tutors, software developers, and organisational leaders in digital skills by the end of 2025. This builds upon Microsoft's previous training of 430,000 people in Poland between 2020 and 2023.

The investment includes support for Polish AI development, including work on Bielik, a Polish language model developed in collaboration with the Academic Computer Center Cyfronet AGH. "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," Tusk added.

The announcement marks an extension of Microsoft's 32-year presence in Poland, following its initial PLN1 billion investment in 2020 to establish the country's first cloud region.

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