The Łukasiewicz Research Network and companies from the WB GROUP (WB Electronics, Polska Amunicja, and MindMade) have signed a strategic partnership agreement in the fields of research, development, and technology transfer. The cooperation is aimed at securing Poland’s technological sovereignty in the high-tech sector and increasing the export of Polish defense systems.
On December 18, at the WB GROUP’s Show Room in Warsaw, a strategic cooperation agreement was signed between the Łukasiewicz Research Network and three companies within the capital group headquartered in Ożarów Mazowiecki. For several months, the parties have been working together on projects including the GLADIUS and WARMATE systems, as well as other unmanned platforms.
The jointly developed solutions are designed to support the modernization of the Polish Armed Forces and strengthening Poland’s position in the global technological race. The cooperation will focus primarily on defense and security systems, developed with a view to achieving technological sovereignty – a foundation of national resilience.
The agreement will accelerate R&D efforts and enable the transfer of ready-made technologies into military systems integrated by WB GROUP, which will then be verified during trials and testing. This is a model example of synergy between the Polish defense industry and research and development institutions.
During the signing ceremony, the Łukasiewicz Research Network was represented by President Hubert Cichocki, while WB Electronics – the leading company in the WB GROUP – was represented by President Piotr Wojciechowski. Polish Ammunition was represented by President Paweł Poncyljusz and Management Board Member Mateusz Buzuk. MindMade was represented by President Paweł Poncyljusz and Management Board Member Jan J. Szczyrek.
“WB GROUP is one of the most innovative companies in Europe. I am pleased that the largest private defense enterprise in Poland is also a proven and priority partner for the Łukasiewicz Research Network. WB GROUP systems have proven their value in Ukraine, where they play a strategic role in supporting defensive capabilities”, said Hubert Cichocki, President of the Łukasiewicz Research Network.
“Extensive cooperation with an R&D organization as renowned as the Łukasiewicz Research Network aligns with our shared goals of achieving not just the technological sovereignty, but Polish dominance in high-tech defense and security sectors. Such agreements help define our specializations on both the Polish and European markets”, stated Piotr Wojciechowski, President of WB GROUP.
“This partnership is an important step in delivering our Network’s strategy. Ultimately, we aim to become the R&D partner of choice for Polish defense companies”, added Hubert Cichocki, noting that technology deployments enhance operational effectiveness and, as a result, the export potential of domestic products.
During the signing ceremony, Piotr Wojciechowski emphasized how proud he was of the growing collaboration with the Łukasiewicz Research Network.
“In recent months, cooperation between the Network’s institutes and WB GROUP has accelerated significantly. It’s a breakthrough in quality: in just a few months, we’ve jointly developed a technology for a key ammunition component — a process originally expected to take several years”,
added Cichocki.
Under the agreement, Łukasiewicz Research Network institutes will be involved in developing new variants of the WARMATE loitering munition family and the GLADIUS strike-reconnaissance system. Further plans include projects in the fields of UAVs, electronics, and advanced materials.
The Network responds dynamically to the needs of WB GROUP, delivering solutions in autonomy, automation, and specialized electronics — in particular printed circuit boards, photodiodes, and optoelectronic components.
Łukasiewicz Research Network
The Łukasiewicz Research Network is a research and development organization made of 22 scientific institutes. Its mission is to deliver innovative solutions to businesses to enhance the competitiveness of the Polish economy. The Łukasiewicz institutes and their branches employ approximately 7,000 people across 30 locations.
The Network’s research potential is focused on four key areas: national defense and security, industrial chemistry, energy transformation, and the circular economy.
WB GROUP
WB GROUP is a European manufacturer with global reach. The Polish company is a leading designer and producer of advanced command, communications, and integration platforms, and one of the largest suppliers of unmanned systems in the world.
WB GROUP develops, modernizes, and integrates innovative solutions in cooperation with a wide range of partners, combining scientific expertise with industrial capacity. The company effectively translates battlefield experience into technical success and is capable of constructive collaboration in international environments to support European sovereignty and collective security.