The Future of the Polish Shipbuilding Industry: Subcontractors or Innovation Leaders?

On 9 October 2026, the jubilee 25th edition of the MARITIME ECONOMY FORUM – one of the most important annual meetings of the maritime industry in Poland – will take place at the Pomeranian Science and Technology Park in Gdynia.

The event’s partner is the FORUM OKRĘTOWE Employers’ Association, which, as every year, participates in its organization and leads the Shipbuilding Panel. The debate on the future of the Polish shipbuilding industry will be one of the most interesting highlights of the maritime industry meeting in Gdynia.

Subcontractors or innovation leaders?

This year, the Shipbuilding Panel will address a fundamental challenge facing the Polish shipbuilding sector – as, indeed, the entire economy of our country.

The key to its continued dynamic development is the transition to high-value-added production based on advanced know-how developed in Poland.

Only such a model generates profits capable of financing development investments and enabling genuine participation in the global technological race. Without high margins from innovation, we will not be able to finance the projects necessary to catch up with the world’s leading players.

Technological breakthrough is a new opportunity

Participants of the Shipbuilding Panel will analyze the strategic opportunities for the Polish shipbuilding sector in the face of a breakthrough driven by:

the digital revolution, with AI playing a key role,
decarbonization,
the global upturn in the shipbuilding industry,
the global increase in defense spending, an intensifying arms race and the growing importance of dual-use technologies.

Every breakthrough is an opportunity for a new beginning. Can we take advantage of it and build competitive niches in the Polish shipbuilding sector capable of taking up the challenge posed by Asian shipyards?

Competing on price in the construction of simple transport vessels makes no sense – China, leveraging its cost advantages and economies of scale, has reduced their prices to a level that will remain unattainable for Europe. The future of the European and Polish shipbuilding industries lies in moving forward – towards technological niches and high-value-added projects.

Europe is moving towards strengthening its leading position in the world in the design and construction of technologically advanced vessels. The Polish shipbuilding industry also has its own strong assets. Polish shipyards have repeatedly demonstrated their innovative potential by creating advanced products based on their own engineering expertise – excellent examples include the series of pioneering LNG-powered vessels developed by REMONTOWA Holding and specialized jack-up vessels built by CRIST.

How can these opportunities be leveraged?

During the two-hour debate, participants will focus on analyzing the opportunities for the Polish shipbuilding sector to take on the role of a leader in modern maritime technologies.

The discussion will address barriers and ways of overcoming them, as well as key success factors – such as innovation and institutional support, e.g. from the government – that will make it possible to build a sustainable competitive advantage for the Polish shipbuilding sector.

Key themes of the panel discussion

The discussion will focus on six key themes:

How can the Polish shipbuilding industry take advantage of the current global upturn and the technological revolution – driven by decarbonization, digitalization and the rapid development of artificial intelligence – to build a strong position in the accelerating technological race?
Where does the greatest potential for specialization of the Polish shipbuilding sector lie, and how can it build a sustainable competitive advantage in these areas?
How can personnel for the modern shipbuilding industry be effectively recruited and trained? Is the education system – from vocational schools to universities – capable of fostering and shaping innovative attitudes among future engineering and technical professionals?
How can synergies between the shipbuilding industry and academia be developed in order to participate effectively in the global race for technological innovation?
Around the world, private commercial shipyards are characterized by significantly higher operational productivity and efficiency than state-owned entities. The global increase in defense spending, the intensifying arms race and the expansion of naval fleets are opening up new market prospects for them. What opportunities does this situation create for Polish commercial shipyards and their partners in light of the growing importance of dual-use technologies?
Can a dynamic private sector become the driving force behind the shipbuilding industry in Szczecin and repeat the success achieved by private companies in the Tricity area?

Participants of the Shipbuilding Panel

Managers with many years of experience in the Polish shipbuilding industry have been invited to participate in the panel discussion, representing key areas of the sector: ship design, shipbuilding and ship repair, science and education, as well as classification supervision. As leaders who have successfully implemented development visions for their organizations for many years, they will share their insights based on practical experience.

Rebuilding the shipbuilding industry in Szczecin

The panel discussion will include strong representation from the shipbuilding industry in Szczecin. Rebuilding our sector in that region – to a level comparable to the Tricity – is a matter of our security. Can private companies take on this task and become the driving force behind this reconstruction?

Open debate

The panel discussion will take the form of an open “brainstorming” session. It will consist of a series of questions addressed to the members of the Shipbuilding Panel, after which the Moderator will invite the audience to participate in the discussion and share their ideas and thoughts.

Politicians from across the political spectrum will also be invited to attend the debate – with the hope that they will incorporate the ideas put forward during the discussion into their programmes in the upcoming election campaign. They could then be implemented by those who will form the future government following the elections…

We invite everyone to take part in this interesting event – the most important debate on the future of the Polish shipbuilding industry, taking place in the beautiful city of Gdynia, which is celebrating its centenary.

Participation in the Gdynia Maritime Economy Forum is free of charge.

There are still a few places available – please do not delay your registration. You can register by visiting the FGM website at the link below:

Rejestracja

See you at this important event for the shipbuilding industry.

Ireneusz Karaśkiewicz, Shipbuilding Panel Leader
Director of the Office of the FORUM OKRĘTOWE Employers’ Association
EU Transparency Registration Number – REG 0133338100106-19

REGISTRATION: https://forum.gdynia.pl/rejestracja/