From Emerging Market to Tech Powerhouse: My Journey in Mexico

As a Polish professional living abroad, today’s 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 reminds me how far innovation can take a nation. It’s a moment not only to celebrate our history but also to recognize how far 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 has come in shaping the future through 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆. Poland’s economy continues to show impressive momentum: 📈 with a 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗗𝗣 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝟯.𝟬% 𝗶𝗻 𝗤𝟮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, making it the 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 at that time, and 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨 𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲. In recent years, Poland has become one of the most dynamic tech hubs in Europe: ✅ Microsoft is investing around $𝟳𝟬𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗣𝗟𝗡 𝟮.𝟴 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻) to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure and strengthen national cybersecurity by mid-2026. ✅ Google has opened a 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘄 and continues to invest in 𝗔𝗜, 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, and 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀. ✅ Samsung Electronics is expanding its 𝗥&𝗗 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 in the country, developing solutions for SmartThings, visual displays, and health tech. ✅ Polish startups such as Docplanner, Booksy and Allegro keep scaling globally, proving that innovation here isn’t just imported but it’s created. Poland has also become a 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘇𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 More than 𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀, including UBS, ABB, Philip Morris International, 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗔𝘅𝗽𝗼, 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗼, 𝗕𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗱, 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲, 𝗟&𝗦, 𝗡𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼, Novartis, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 Roche, have invested in Poland and contributed to technological development, job creation, and stronger international collaboration. It’s inspiring to see how Poland’s resilience has evolved into digital strength. Independence today is about building, innovating, and creating impact on a global scale. #Poland #IndependenceDay #Innovation #Technology #AI #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork #Switzerland #EconomicGrowth

What's going on in Denmark right now? The Danish tech sector is still moving at full speed. Employment sits close to record highs, and investment in AI, digital infrastructure, and sustainable tech continues to expand. The issue isn’t demand, it’s supply. Most skilled developers, engineers, and data professionals are already working, and competition for experienced hires is fierce. Companies are holding onto talent longer, building internal development programs, and quietly searching internationally when domestic pipelines run dry. Even early-stage startups haven’t slowed. They’re scaling globally earlier and building distributed teams from day one a big shift from the pre-pandemic hiring mindset.

🌍 #Innovation is not evenly distributed — it’s clustered. Global innovation doesn’t blossom randomly. It concentrates in power hubs like: San Francisco Bay Area Boston–Cambridge London–Oxford Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou Tokyo–Yokohama These places become “innovation gravity fields” — attracting talent, capital, patents, universities, corporates, and startups into the same physical orbit. Want to jump from talent → product → global scale, we must design deliberate innovation clusters — not generic technoparks, not vanity campuses, not scattered efforts. Because the winners don’t innovate everywhere. They innovate together, intensely, repeatedly, in a few focused places. This map is not just data. It is a mirror.

🌍 Europe's Hidden Innovation Goldmine: The Rise of Non-Metropolitan Tech Hubs The narrative is shifting. Europe's next wave of innovation isn't just coming from London, Berlin, or Paris—it's emerging from unexpected places. The data tells the story: - Zoe Talent Solutions: 12.3% of EU workforce remote (2024), projected 15% by 2025 - E-Resident: Tallinn has Europe's highest startup density (1,100+ per million inhabitants) - Alcor BPO: Warsaw now boasts 156,000+ software developers - Uptalen: Romania offers 240,000 tech talents—6th globally for certified developers per capita - Caflou: 40%+ of European job seekers now reject jobs without remote options Cities breaking through: → Cluj-Napoca: Leading Transylvania's tech transformation → Košice: Slovakia's flourishing IT hub with university pipelines → Tallinn: Named world's best city for startups (Monocle 2025) → Espoo: Birthplace of 50% of Finland's university-born startups → Braga: 100% export increase, 2,000 annual new jobs AI recruitment tools and candidate screening software are democratizing talent discovery—capabilities matter more than postal codes. Read Part 1 in comments. #TechHubs #AIRecruitment #EuropeanInnovation #TalentStrategy

🚀 Expanding to Europe? Part 19: Innovation and R&D Collaboration Europe is not only a market of consumers, it is a hub of innovation. For U.S. SMEs, engaging in European research, development, and innovation programs can accelerate growth and open doors to new technologies, funding, and strategic partnerships. 🔑 Why Europe Is a Strong Innovation Partner - Robust R&D Ecosystem The EU invests heavily in research and technology. Horizon Europe, the EU’s main innovation funding program — has a budget of nearly €95 billion (2021–2027), supporting international partnerships. - Top Academic and Tech Clusters From Warsaw and Prague in Central Europe to Copenhagen and Berlin in the North, innovation ecosystems are growing fast, integrating startups, universities, and industry leaders. - Cross-Border Collaboration The EU encourages joint R&D projects between local and non-EU companies, including U.S. entities, especially in areas like clean energy, digitalization, and AI. ⚠️ Challenges to Consider - Application processes for EU funds can be complex and competitive. - Projects often require local partnerships and co-financing. - Different IP and data-sharing rules may apply within multi-country collaborations. 💡 Why This Matters for U.S. SMEs - Joining European R&D programs provides access to new funding and a faster path to market validation. - Local partnerships in countries such as Poland, Denmark, Estonia and Germany strengthen innovation potential while reducing entry costs. - Collaborating in Europe builds credibility and visibility for SMEs in global markets. Takeaway Europe’s innovation landscape is rich, well-funded, and open to collaboration. For U.S. SMEs, engaging in R&D partnerships is more than a growth strategy it is a gateway to global competitiveness and lasting success. #USASME #EuropeanExpansion #Innovation #Research #Collaboration #BusinessGrowth #Development #Strategy

🚀 Innovation moves faster with the right partners. At Deep Tech CEE Summit 2025, we’re joining forces with organizations that power science, tech, and business across the region. This wouldn’t be possible without the contribution of: ➡️ Stalowowolska Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego sp. z o.o.: StARR -supports the economic and social growth of Stalowa Wola and the Podkarpacie region. By providing strategic planning, funding, and innovation support, it partners with public institutions, companies, and NGOs to drive sustainable development. ➡️ Warszawa - is a leading CEE business hub with top talent and real estate. The city supports global companies and investors at every stage of expansion. ➡️ VCLeaders - has supported the venture capital ecosystem since 2017, providing education, resources, and events for investors. With top-tier programs and a give-first mindset, it helps build world-class VC leaders and strengthen the investment community. ➡️ Porozumienie Spółek Celowych - unites 37 university SPVs, representing the potential of 42,000 scientists and 418,000 students across Poland. It drives commercialization of research, fosters spin-off companies, and coordinates R&D projects that bring new technologies and innovations to market. 🚀 Join us at the Summit: https://lnkd.in/d4UkAsaw #DeepTechCEE #Ecosystem #Partnerships

The Caribbean has the talent, the ideas, and the hunger to innovate. Yet outdated education, weak infrastructure, and brain drain hold us back. At E-strateji, we believe the solution is in our hands. This article explores how Caribbean creators can finally turn challenges into growth, and build a thriving tech ecosystem from here. 🔗 Read the full article → https://lnkd.in/e57nCGEh #Estrateji #CaribbeanTech #BuildFromHere #Innovation

Most companies don’t fail because of the product. They fail because of assumptions about the market. A few key lessons from founders who tried to scale early into markets like Japan, Hong Kong, the Nordics, the U.S., and the UK: • “Digital” doesn’t mean adopted. Japan looks like the future on the surface — but inside nursing homes, technology often sits unused. The signal wasn’t real yet. • Kickstarter backers ≠ market demand. Early adopters prove possibility, not scalability. Real demand only appears when a market pays—again. • Manufacturing is where idealism meets reality. Trying to “produce local” sounds noble. But without volume, European suppliers won’t innovate. China will. Speed becomes the differentiator. • The U.S. only counts U.S. traction. Revenue elsewhere is treated as zero. Go early or go much later — not in between. • Global mindset is good. Global execution too early is chaos. Think global. Start focused. Prove adoption in one real market before expanding. The thread through all of this: Don’t scale your assumptions. Scale your evidence. #FailingForward #GoGlobal #StartupLessons #BornGlobalLaunchpad Speakers & Hosts: Dejan Stojanovic Andreas Frankl Katerina Sedlackova Hugo Furtado Robert Kopka

Emerging Markets in LATAM: Where the Growth Opportunities Are LATAM continues to gain gain momentum as a strategic growth region for companies worldwide. With a rising middle class, digital transformation, and an increasingly skilled workforce, key LATAM markets are now hotbeds of innovation and opportunity across multiple sectors. Here’s where we’re seeing the strongest momentum: ✅ Technology – Cities like São Paulo, Mexico City, Bogotá, and Buenos Aires are becoming regional tech hubs, with booming ecosystems in AI, fintech, software development, and cloud services. ✅ Healthcare & MedTech – The post-pandemic shift has accelerated investment in telehealth, health data platforms, and medical device innovation, especially in Chile, Brazil, and Colombia. ✅ Logistics & Supply Chain – Nearshoring trends and infrastructure upgrades are turning Mexico, Panama, and Colombia into critical logistics and fulfillment centers for North American and European markets. ✅ E-commerce & Fintech – LATAM is seeing explosive digital adoption, creating massive opportunities for payments, banking-as-a-service, and consumer platforms. For global companies looking to expand, LATAM is more than just an emerging region—it’s a growth partner. If you're exploring market entry or partnerships in LATAM, let’s connect. I can help you navigate the opportunity. I am super excited to be making plans to participate in a #Pro-Colombia event in the coming months, helping provide additional exposure to the US market for the hungry companies. #LATAMGrowth #EmergingMarkets #TechInLATAM #BusinessDevelopment #NearshoreExpansion #GlobalGrowth

I completely agree Joaquin Quintas . In technology procurement, proximity has become a critical success factor. Nearshoring not only optimizes costs but also accelerates innovation, enhances communication, and strengthens collaboration across teams. Mexico and other tech hubs in LATAM are proving that the combination of talent, bilingualism, and digital maturity can deliver service levels comparable to Silicon Valley — yet with the agility that fuels regional business strategies. In this new context, the role of strategic sourcing goes beyond negotiation: it’s about building value ecosystems that enable the digital transformation of the business.