Working Group for the Internet of Things (IoT)

The Working Group for the Internet of Things was established with an objective to identify actions necessary to enable development and common use of IoT based solutions, so that they have a real impact on Poland’s economic growth.

Hand holding a smartphone. In the background skyscrapers of a large city.

The first stage of work was initiated on 24 August 2018 by the then Secretary of State at the Ministry of Digital Affairs, Karol Okoński, and Marcin Ociepa (then Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology).

The group – led by Leszek Maśniak, the then vice chairman of the IT Architecture Council and Dr Maciej Kawecki, the then Director of Department of Data Management (DZD) at the Ministry of Digital Affairs – prepared a report describing the current institutional and legal status, as well as the business environment of the IoT industry in Poland. The report indicated areas in which the use of IoT technology can bring tangible benefits for citizens, companies, local government units and the state as a whole, significantly contributing to improving the quality of life in Poland. Also, the publication includes recommendations for actions which the Polish government should undertake in order to ensure proper conditions for the development and promotion of IoT solutions based on Polish know-how.

The report titled ‘IoT and the Polish economy’ was officially launched on 2nd July 2019 in Warsaw during a conference ‘Internet of Things – Poland of the Future’ (for more info about the conference – in Polish – click here.

On 23 July 2019 Marek Zagórski, Minister of Digital Affairs launched the second stage of the Group work, with an objective to define best way to address the issues covered in the report.

The activities under leadership of Michał Wiśniewski (successor to Mr Kawecki at DZD and currently Director at the Department of Innovative Solutions at the Ministry of Digital Affairs) were exercised in three subgroups:

legislation
standards &certification
projects & finance

These concluded with presentation on 16 December 2019 outlining roadmap to create IoT friendly environment in Poland.

Since January 2020 the Group has been focusing on developing projects, which would support common use of IoT in the following areas:

Smart Cities and Smart Homes/Buildings
Smart agriculture
IoT in Healthcare system
Smart Transport
Standarisation
Legislation

In the first quarter of the 2020 experts representing the working group had opportunity to participate in a series of conferences organised under the auspices of Mr Andrzej Duda, the President of the Republic of Poland and Mr Marek Zagórski, Minister of Digital Affairs and in co-operation with institutions such as GovTech Polska, KOWR (National Centre for Agriculture Support), National Contact Point in Poland for Research Programmes of the EU and the Polish Development Fund (PFR) to mention just few.

The nationwide roadshow titled ‘IoT development perspectives – Self-government of the Future’ was launched on 4 October 2019 at Belveder – the Presidential Residence. For latest updates of the series please click here.

In April 2020 a new subgroup was established – IoT at the Solidarity Transport Hub Poland, with a specific objective to present by mid-June a review of best practice and lessons to be learned from similar investments worldwide as far as IoT use is concerned. The report is to address key issues which should be taken into account while designing the flagship project by the Polish government, so that investment contributes to welfare of the whole CEE region. The subgroup is led by Michał Wiśniewski, director of the Department of Innovative Solutions at the Ministry of Digital Affairs.

The Working Group for the Internet of Things is open to accept new members – industry experts drawn from all angles of the market: private and public sectors, academia and NGOs, ready to develop the projects on pro publico bono basis.

Contact for further details: sekretariat.DRI@mc.gov.pl