Industry 5.0 is still poorly understood across much of the Polish market, with many companies having only a partial grasp of its principles. Awareness is improving, but most organisations are still in the early stages of understanding what the shift toward human-centric, resilient, and sustainable manufacturing really means.

Despite these gaps, Polish companies increasingly recognize that Industry 5.0 offers significant advantages—higher efficiency, better product quality, stronger resilience, and improved sustainability. These benefits are becoming essential for maintaining competitiveness in rapidly evolving global markets.

Awareness and Readiness in Poland

Limited understanding

Many Polish firms have only a fragmented view of Industry 5.0. Employees often lack clear knowledge of their company’s strategy or how human-machine collaboration fits into future operations.

Growing interest

Academic institutions, industry associations, and manufacturers are paying more attention to Industry 5.0—especially after COVID-19 exposed the need for more resilient and adaptable business models.

Key Challenges Slowing Adoption

1. Infrastructure and Technology Gaps

Companies face obstacles such as:

• Outdated IT and operational infrastructure

• High implementation costs

• Complex cybersecurity requirements

• Difficulty integrating advanced systems with legacy equipment

2. Organizational and Cultural Barriers

Firms struggle with:

• Siloed departments and poor cross-team cooperation

• Resistance to changing established processes

• Limited experience in integrating digital systems end-to-end

3. Human-Machine Collaboration Concerns

Ensuring safe and effective cooperation between workers and machines remains a challenge, as many current systems are not mature enough to guarantee worker safety in collaborative environments.

4. Digital Skills Shortage

There is a growing need to:

• Raise digital literacy across all employee levels

• Educate non-technical staff

• Close the communication gap between IT teams and traditional maintenance departments

Opportunities and Benefits of Industry 5.0

1. Human-Centric Manufacturing

Industry 5.0 focuses on improving worker well-being, enabling more meaningful jobs and creating systems where people and technologies work together.

2. Higher Efficiency and Quality

Adoption can greatly enhance:

• Operational efficiency

• Production quality

• Service reliability

This is vital as companies face rising costs and increasing environmental expectations.

3. Sustainability and Resilience

Industry 5.0 aligns with global sustainability goals and helps build resilient supply chains capable of withstanding future disruptions.

4. Competitive Advantage

Businesses that embrace Industry 5.0 early stand to gain a stronger position in the market, greater adaptability and long-term stability.

Strategic Considerations for Polish Companies

Tailored Approaches

Different types of organisations—start-ups, mid-sized firms and legacy manufacturers—face distinct challenges. Each requires a customised strategy to transition toward Industry 5.0 successfully.

Collaboration Over Automation

Success depends on integrating human skills and creativity with advanced technologies, rather than simply automating tasks or replacing human labour.