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More than 56% of Poles feel pride in their country, and among the reasons for this feeling, historical figures and events take the lead, according to the latest survey. Only 4% of respondents point to innovations in the field of inventions, and 3% to technological achievements. As many as 41% of those surveyed believe that, in terms of overall development, we are lagging behind other European countries. However, the facts are that Poland is one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU. To strengthen patriotism and raise awareness among Poles in this regard, the campaign ‘We Did It In Poland’ is launched by the WłączeniPlus Foundation under the patronage of Poland’s presidency in the Council of the European Union. Its goal is to highlight Polish achievements, build national pride, and strengthen the sense of belonging and agency among Poles.
More than half of Poles – 56 percent. – feel pride in their country. In contrast, 20 percent of respondents feel shame at the thought of Poland. By comparison, in a 2010 CBOS survey, a sense of pride in Poland was declared by 60 percent of respondents, while shame was declared by 14 percent. Currently, among the most frequently cited reasons for national pride, Pope John Paul II (11 percent of indications) and Maria Skłodowska-Curie (10 percent) lead the way, along with generalities such as the country’s history (10 percent), sports achievements (8 percent) or scientific achievements (7 percent). Only 4% of respondents mention inventions, and 3% cite technological achievements. . At the same time, as many as one in four respondents is unable to point to any aspect that Poland can boast about. As many as 41 percent of respondents believe that we are lagging behind other European countries in terms of overall development, although economic data contradicts this. Since Poland has been a member of the European Union, our economy has doubled. In 20 years we have reached a similar standard of living to some Western European countries: Portugal, Spain, Greece, southern Italy. Behind this are concrete solutions of companies, Polish creativity and people – open, creative, bold in their thoughts and actions.
Pride in their country is mostly felt by the oldest generation, the so-called baby boomers. Generation Z, who will play the most significant role in shaping Poland’s image in the coming years, are the ones who most frequently feel shame compared to all other generations – says Olga Kozierowska, the creator of the ‘We Did It In Poland’ campaign, a member of the Council of Non-Governmental Organizations for Poland’s Presidency in the Council of the European Union, and president of the WłączeniPlus Foundation . – – As part of the campaign, we want to present the multidimensionality of patriotism, which focuses not only on landscapes and history but also on innovation, the achievements of our fellow countrymen, as well as everyday life. In the spot, we showcase Polish innovations such as BLIK, Booksy, ORLEN X WILLBERT electric car charging stations, and the ability to make payments with a glance.
The We Did It In Poland campaign is being launched, which aims, among other things, to strengthen the image of Poland as an innovative, dynamic and modern country that makes a significant contribution to the development of the European Union, and to direct attention to the potential of Polish entrepreneurship. Increasing awareness of national achievements in the fields of technology and business will not only counteract harmful stereotypes, but also increase the interest of European partners and investors in cooperation with Polish companies.
We are part of the European Union, and we have excellent scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs who compete at a global level. The ‘We Did It In Poland’ campaign shows the modern side of our country and encourages us to speak out about Polish successes and feel proud of where Poland stands today – says Minister for European Union Affairs Adam Szłapka.
The project aims to inspire national pride through education about Polish achievements. It will include extensive activities in Poland and in the European Union, such as:
- airing a spot promoting Poland’s contemporary achievements and inventions, in both Polish and English,
- an interactive exhibition on Polish innovations,
- PR activities,
- dedicated website,
- providing sets of materials to support the promotion of the domestic economy to Polish embassies around the world,
- communication in the media and social media,
- cooperation with opinion leaders, entrepreneurs, creators or scientists.
The campaign is also intended to initiate conversation about Polish successes, activate Poles and encourage them to share on social media their stories, photos or videos related to what they have achieved, what inspires them in Poland, what or whom in our country they admire. Information about Polish innovations worth bragging about will also be able to be submitted via a form on the website.
Since the last presidency in the Council of the European Union in 2011, Poland has changed significantly. It is a kind of ‘dots the i’ pointing to Poland’s return to a strong position in Europe. We want to show that ‘Poland is back,’ that we are back in the game, and that it’s worth investing here. During the presidency, we place a strong emphasis on innovations, showcasing business ideas in Poland, and on how EU funds can be spent – says Deputy Minister for European Union Affairs Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka .
Dialogue and openness to cooperation are the cornerstones of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Council of NGOs and Entrepreneurs for the Presidency issued a recommendation that one of the elements in the communication strategy should be the promotion of Polish innovations. The ongoing Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union is an excellent moment to present Polish innovations and potential to the world, as well as to Poles themselves.
In this spirit, the IncludedPlus Foundation, in collaboration with Business Science Poland, proudly launched the ‘We Did It In Poland’ campaign, which will serve as an impetus for broad communication of Polish achievements.
Partners of the We Did It In Poland campaign: Business Science Poland, BLIK, Booksy, PZU Foundation, Mastercard, ORLEN.
The survey commissioned by the IncludedPlus Foundation was conducted by the research agency Grupa 4P from December 6–12, 2024, using the CAWI method on a representative sample of 1010 Poles aged 18 to 70
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The IncludedPlus Foundation was established to build an open, diverse, and inclusive society where everyone has equal opportunities for growth, success, and active participation in social and professional life. We believe that inclusion is a driving force behind innovation, talent development, and community strengthening. That’s why our efforts focus on supporting entrepreneurship, education, and equal opportunities across various sectors. At the same time, we aim to promote the achievements of Polish women and men—those whose passion, determination, and innovation are transforming Poland and the world. We strive to showcase inspiring stories, recognize accomplishments, and foster national pride by highlighting the contributions of our fellow citizens to the development of business, science, culture, and technology. We act with the future in mind—supporting leaders, developing skills, and creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration. Inclusion is not just an idea; it is the way we shape a better reality for all of us.
