Internationalisation, Investment, and the Future of Responsible Growth
On 3–4 December 2025, Warsaw hosted the 18th National Congress of Family Businesses U-RODZINY, one of Poland’s most important annual gatherings dedicated to family-owned enterprises. The event brought together business owners, investors, academics, diplomats, innovators, and civic leaders to reflect on the future of family businesses in an increasingly complex global environment.
Global Artificial Intelligence Alliance was actively involved in the Congress, contributing to both the strategic debate on internationalisation and the broader reflection on the future of leadership, technology, and values.
Day One: Impact, Values, and Responsibility
The Congress opened on 3 December with a special TEDxKamionek Salon – Impact hosted at the Zamoyski Palace in Warsaw. The first day focused on social impact, sustainability, humanitarian engagement, and long-term responsibility, highlighting how family businesses can shape positive change beyond purely economic outcomes.
Speakers and special guests addressed topics ranging from ethical leadership and resilience to the role of culture, education, and social commitment in building lasting enterprises. The evening concluded with extensive networking, reinforcing the Congress’s role as a platform for dialogue across generations, sectors, and disciplines.
Day Two: Strategy, Investment, and Global Perspectives
The second day, held at the historic Stary BUW campus, shifted attention toward strategy, governance, investment, and international expansion. The agenda combined keynote speeches, expert panels, and open discussions on wealth management, intergenerational dialogue, resilience in times of uncertainty, and cooperation between science and business.
A key feature of the day was the Open Space & Networking session on Investments and Business Relations, which encouraged participants to actively exchange experiences, form partnerships, and explore concrete collaboration opportunities.
GAIA Patronage Panel: Investing in Internationalisation
One of the central sessions of the Congress was the panel “Investing in Internationalisation”, held under the patronage of GAIA – Global Artificial Intelligence Alliance.
The panel was moderated by Mateusz Czerniga, Board Member of GAIA, project manager and expert in international relations, governance, and technology-driven transformation. The discussion addressed a fundamental question faced by many family businesses today:
How can family-owned companies expand internationally in a sustainable way – without losing control, identity, and long-term vision?
Panel participants included:
- Margarita Haller de Hallenburg – Biovalley Research
- Prof. Zbigniew Dokurno – Wroclaw University of Economics, Read Gene SA
- Dominika Duda – Venture Café Warsaw
- Jakub Sławek – Former Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the UAE
- Magdalena Jabłońska – Foundation for Technological Entrepreneurship
- Kamil Szymański – Congress of 60 Million (Global Polish Diaspora)
- Marzena Szczotkowska-Topić – RENEX EEC
The discussion explored multiple dimensions of internationalisation:
- practical pathways to foreign markets,
- the role of strategic investors, stock exchanges, and “smart money”,
- cultural and geopolitical contexts of expansion (including the Middle East and global diaspora networks),
- and the growing importance of technology and artificial intelligence as tools supporting global growth.
From GAIA’s perspective, the panel also introduced the concept of building AI-enabled export ecosystems, combining international networks, legal and cultural expertise, access to capital, and advanced analytical tools to support SMEs and family businesses in their global ambitions.
Technology, AI, and the Future of Global Growth
A recurring theme across GAIA-led discussions was the role of artificial intelligence not as a buzzword, but as a strategic enabler. Examples of globally successful Polish technology companies and the international mobility of Polish talent illustrated both the opportunities and the systemic challenges faced by innovative enterprises.
The panel highlighted that international success increasingly depends on:
- access to global networks,
- intelligent use of data and AI for market analysis and decision-making,
- and cooperation across sectors rather than isolated efforts.
Evening Session: “The Future Is Now – Academy of Future”
GAIA’s presence at the Congress continued into the evening integration event on 4 December, celebrating the 18th anniversary of U-RODZINY.
A keynote session titled “The Future Is Now – Academy of Future” was delivered by:
- Edi Pyrek – mentor, author, and lecturer,
- Mateusz Pyrek – traveller and writer.
Their joint appearance focused on future-oriented leadership, imagination, adaptability, and human agency in times of rapid technological change. The session encouraged participants to reflect not only on economic growth, but also on personal development, values, and responsibility in an AI-driven world.
GAIA’s Contribution: Connecting Technology, Values, and International Networks
GAIA’s involvement in the 18th National Congress of Family Businesses U-RODZINY reaffirmed its mission to bridge:
- technology and ethics,
- local entrepreneurship and global ecosystems,
- innovation and long-term societal impact.
Through the leadership of Mateusz Czerniga and the thought-provoking contributions of Edi Pyrek and Mateusz Pyrek, GAIA highlighted the importance of responsible, human-centred approaches to internationalisation and technological transformation.
The Congress demonstrated that family businesses, when supported by strong networks, strategic capital, and responsible innovation, can successfully compete and grow on the global stage – while staying true to their values.
