About the research
The Brownfield Bridge is a research-grounded framework for understanding why legacy industrial organisations struggle to deploy AI and what they can do about it.
The research was conducted in 2026 and combines a primary survey of 69 European industrial decision-makers with analysis of published research on AI adoption, organisational change, and knowledge management in traditional industries. All survey responses were anonymised and analysed in aggregate; no individual data is published.
The central finding: Three-quarters (75.4%) of industrial leaders identify implementation capability, not strategic understanding, as their primary barrier to AI adoption. Most organisations know they need AI. Very few know how to make it work within their existing infrastructure, safety requirements, and organisational culture.
Jacek Kieszkowski
Longstanding experience in European industrial B2B: HVAC, construction materials, and building services across Eastern and all European markets.
Academic credentials: Oxford Saïd Business School Diploma in AI for Business (2025–26), IMD Digital Excellence Diploma (2024), SGH Warsaw School of Economics Digital Marketing Diploma (2022–23). PhD in trade strategies (2003). E-MBA in Strategic analysis and programs (1996–98).
Contact
email: jacek.kies@outlook.com
linkedin: jacek-kieszkowski