3.2–3.5% of GDP and only 15% of innovative companies—where do we stand?
The World Bank’s latest forecasts point to higher-than-expected economic growth in Poland, but at the same time clearly highlight new development challenges.
Will Poland perform better than previously expected? Yes, but there’s a catch.
World Bank forecasts indicate that Poland’s GDP growth in 2026 could reach approximately 3.2–3.5%—significantly higher than projected just a few months ago.
The Polish economy is currently driven primarily by strong consumer demand, rising investment, and a stable services sector.
Key facts:
🔹 Only 15% of Polish SMEs introduce product innovations (vs. an EU average of 27%)
🔹 Poland ranks 23rd in the EU in terms of innovation
🔹 The private sector accounts for approximately 40% of R&D spending, while in the most developed economies this figure is 60–70%
🔹 In Poland, 26% of corporate investments are allocated to intangible assets (such as software, research, data, and management improvements), while across the EU this figure stands at 37%.
The World Bank notes that Poland is entering a new stage of development in which productivity, innovation, and the ability to create added value are becoming key.
From a market perspective, this means:
➡the growing importance of the quality of growth, not just its pace
➡the growing role of investment in technology, know-how, and human capital
➡pressure to transform business models, including in the real estate sector
This is also an important signal for the industry, because as the economy transitions from a phase of “catching up” to one of “value creation,” the way we view investments, locations, and the long-term potential of projects is also changing.
And it is precisely this context—qualitative change, not just quantitative—that will increasingly feature in market discussions. It will also be a key topic at the 2026 Polish Real Estate Forum.