On 29 October 2026, Dr Grzegorz Gil, Director of the Institute of Central Europe, participated in a debate entitled “Resilience in wartime. What can Europe learn from Ukraine?”, organised by Łukasiewicz – ITECH Institute of Innovation and Technology.
The discussion focused on ways to strengthen state resilience in the face of the threat of war, the role of civil society, the effectiveness of institutions, and the importance of technological innovation. Participants also discussed which lessons from Ukraine’s experience could serve as a reference point for Poland and other European countries.
As Dr Grzegorz Gil emphasised, “resilience as such is not a characteristic, but a process”. This means that a state’s ability to respond to crises depends not only on its available resources or formal structures, but also requires continuous preparation, adaptation, and cooperation among various stakeholders.
Other key topics addressed during the debate included the importance of decentralisation and the capacity of local communities to take action, the rapid implementation of innovations, and the development of technological and economic sovereignty. Ukraine’s experience demonstrates that state resilience relies not only on military capabilities but also on cooperation between central and local government, civil society, academia, and industry.
The debate also featured Professor Rafał Łukasik, Dr Oleksandra Iwaniuk, and Melania Parzonka. The discussion was moderated by Szymon Kępka.
State resilience in wartime. IEŚ Director discusses Ukraine’s experience