The fund was created at the initiative of the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy and responds to geopolitical challenges, the country's modernisation needs and the need to build the country's long-term resilience.

Two months ago we promised the Security and Defence Fund. Today, we are keeping our promise. It is an investment in security of every citizen and in the development of Polish industry

- Deputy Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Jan Szyszko emphasises.

SDF funds will be allocated to four key areas:

• Building civil protection infrastructure - shelters, communication systems, critical infrastructure (e.g. water infrastructure) will be upgraded and new shelters will be built to increase the resilience of cities and local communities to crisis situations.
• Development of Poland's modern security and defence industry - funds will be allocated to defence industry plants and component manufacturers, supporting the creation of new, well-paid jobs, especially in smaller centres.
• Dual-use infrastructure - the fund will enable the construction and upgrading of roads, railways, bridges and k-tunnels that serve residents in peacetime and can support military mobility when needed.
• Cyber security - investment will comprise the expansion of cyber security systems to protect critical infrastructure, data protection systems and the creation of secure information processing and storage centres in Poland.

The fund is a part of a broad strategy to strengthen Poland's resilience and also aims to enhance the country's industrial and technological independence. It is also the first mechanism of its kind under the NRP to combine infrastructural, social and defence objectives into a single coherent development programme.