Some EU countries, such as Poland, are using their expanded defense budgets to buy more foreign hardware. A better approach would be to foster a thriving innovation ecosystem which ensures that the technologies, institutions, and people that underpin a strong military benefit the civilian economy as well.
WARSAW—Poland has led NATO in defense spending in relative terms for three consecutive years, with an annual budget of roughly zł200 billion ($54 billion), or 4.8% of GDP. Poland was also the first country to draw on the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loan facility, securing some €43.7 billion ($50 billion) in loans to support military spending through 2030. The question is how to ensure that such investments produce innovations which simultaneously bolster security and build national wealth.
