On 14 April, during the Gala Dinner, the inaugural PLDCA Industry Awards were presented. These distinctions, granted by the Polish Data Center Association, recognise companies, projects and leaders who contribute in a meaningful way to shaping the development of the digital infrastructure market in Poland and across Europe. The evening combined formal recognition with a programme of high-level contributions, setting the tone for the discussions that followed.
The conference day on 15 April brought together an extensive programme of panels and presentations. The stage hosted government representatives, leaders of European data center associations from Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Czechia and Slovakia, as well as senior executives and experts representing both Polish and international organisations operating across the data center ecosystem. The breadth and quality of the dialogue made it clear that the sector is entering a new phase of scale and complexity.
Key conclusions from this year’s edition:
📈 Poland is entering a phase of accelerated growth.
Available IT capacity has increased from approximately 70 MW in 2020 to over 200 MW today. Market projections indicate a potential increase to 500–600 MW by 2030. At the same time, data published by the Polish transmission system operator (PSE) points to a significantly larger long-term trajectory, reaching up to 3 GW by 2035 and even 5 GW by 2040. This positions the sector among the most dynamic areas of infrastructure development.
💶 Scaling the sector requires coordinated, large-scale investment.
Further growth will depend on access to capital, efficient administrative procedures, improved coordination between public institutions and accelerated energy transition processes. The investment environment will be a decisive factor in determining the pace of development.
🔐 Data centers are becoming strategic infrastructure.
Their role extends beyond digital services. They are increasingly recognised as critical assets for economic resilience, technological sovereignty and national security.
♻️ Poland has structural advantages that can be leveraged.
Post-industrial sites, access to grid infrastructure, a well-developed district heating network and the opportunity to build integrated, more sustainable energy and data ecosystems create a strong foundation for future growth.
Gateway Poland fulfilled its role as a platform for informed, cross-sector dialogue. The discussions demonstrated a shared understanding that the development of digital infrastructure requires alignment between industry, energy providers and public administration.
We would like to thank all participants, speakers, partners and patrons for their presence, engagement and contribution to the quality of this exchange. The level of discussion confirms that the sector is ready to move from growth to scale.
Thanks to our Partners and Sponsors
