On 18 August, the government approved an amendment to the ‘European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021–2027’ programme. Defence technologies will become the fourth area of support under the Critical Technologies Support Fund, alongside digital technologies and deep tech, clean technologies and biotechnology.
The change is intended to benefit companies developing solutions for defence and security, including dual-use technologies. Support may cover technological development and investments aimed at enhancing companies’ potential. Polish projects that received high ratings under the Horizon Europe programme but did not secure funding due to the EU budget being exhausted will also be given an additional opportunity.
The decision is part of a clear shift in economic policy towards security and technological sovereignty. In 2026, Poland is allocating PLN 200.1 billion to defence, representing 4.81 per cent of GDP. At the same time, the FENG schedule has announced six calls for proposals relating to defence and critical technologies, with a total allocation of PLN 1.46 billion. In parallel, the European Commission has launched EIC STEP Scale Up Defence, an instrument supporting the scaling up of breakthrough defence technologies.
For Polish start-ups, SMEs and industrial firms, this could mean an easier transition from prototype to production, the development of their own know-how and a better chance of entering European supply chains. Potential beneficiaries include, amongst others, companies developing drones, cybersecurity, sensor technology and advanced electronics.
However, funding alone does not guarantee success. The pace of calls for proposals, the quality of project selection and whether the solutions developed will subsequently find takers in public procurement and the defence sector will be key factors.
