The Polish private sector is entering 2026 with a paradoxical attitude. On the one hand, there is a clear end to investment defensiveness, while on the other, there is the introduction of a strict prudence filter. The latest report “Investment plans of Polish companies in 2026” draws a picture of a market where capital has ceased to wait for “better times”, but has started to flow only where the rate of return is combined with resilience to global shocks.
The modern Polish entrepreneur is abandoning small, dispersed projects in favour of ventures of a dozen or tens of millions. This consolidation of spending suggests maturity; companies are no longer afraid of major digital transformations, as long as these guarantee survival in an unpredictable environment. Grant Thornton’s chief economist, Dr Marcin Mrowiec, rightly points out that digitalisation is no longer treated as an optional extra. It has become a digital armour to protect against regulatory pressures and cyber threats.
The foundation of this change is pragmatism. Investments in artificial intelligence or automation are no longer motivated simply by a desire for innovation, but by the need to optimise costs in the face of increasing geopolitical uncertainty. Conflicts in the Middle East and potential turbulence in the energy markets are acting like a cold shower on managements. As a result, capital-intensive debt-financed projects are being phased out or subjected to a strict cost-of-money risk analysis.
Parallel to technology is human capital. Nearly 40 per cent of companies are planning to increase their investment in employees, but this is no longer a battle for ‘hands on’. It is a targeted investment in the competences of the future, which are required to handle newly implemented IT systems. In doing so, companies are increasingly taking advantage of research and development (R&D) allowances, making innovation more predictable in excel sheets.
Polish business is becoming more selective, but also more ambitious. In 2026, projects that can prove their worth in both growth and crisis scenarios are winning.
