Cluj in the European Parliament: Transilvania IT Cluster at Romanian Digital Day 2025

Transilvania IT Cluster and the European Digital Innovation Hub in Transilvania were co-organizers of Romanian Digital Day 2025, one of the most important events dedicated to European innovation and digital transformation, held in Brussels.

Cluj took center stage in the European Parliament during the third edition of Romanian Digital Day 2025, held in Brussels on March 18. Co-organized by Transilvania IT Cluster and the European Digital Innovation Hub in Transilvania, the event served as a true bridge between local innovation and Europe’s digital ambitions. This edition highlighted Cluj’s active role, a city increasingly recognized as a regional innovation hub shaping Europe’s digital future.

The day was structured around thematic discussions addressing various aspects of digital transformation. Participants explored how technology can be leveraged to enhance economic competitiveness, support startup growth, and reduce digital gaps across European regions.

The event featured panel discussions focused on three main topics:

• Boosting competitiveness through edu-tech and the development of European technology hubs;

• EU digital policies and their impact on the tech ecosystem;

• Romania’s role in promoting innovation and European digital leadership.

Key speakers at this edition included Ekaterina ZAHARIEVA (European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation), Roxana MÎNZATU (Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs, and Training), Iulian STANCIU (Founder of eMag), Sacha MICHAUD (Co-founder of Glovo), Cosmin GEORGESCU (CEO of Cluster Power), Andrei SAVIN (CEO of Brinel), and many others.

Transilvania IT Cluster, as the coordinator of the European Digital Innovation Hub in Transilvania, organized the third panel of the day. Opening the session, Bianca Muntean, Co-founder and Manager of Transilvania IT Cluster, emphasized the importance of collaboration and spoke about Romania’s and especially Cluj’s contributions:

“Digital transformation is not just about technology – it’s about people, ecosystems, collaboration, and real impact. Romania is no longer a newcomer in this industry; we have the talent, the knowledge, and the ambition to shape Europe’s digital future.”

Bianca also highlighted the need for centralization, coordination, and integration of resources to achieve meaningful results—something that digital innovation hubs and clusters are best positioned to do by bringing together key actors: companies, universities, and public institutions.

Ana-Maria Stancu, CEO of RoboHub, underscored the importance of expanding access to technology.

“The rapid pace of technological advancement shouldn’t be a privilege limited to small segments of society, but must bring real benefits to all citizens. To achieve this, it is essential to invest in digital education and cybersecurity skills so that every individual is prepared to navigate safely and confidently in today’s and tomorrow’s increasingly complex digital ecosystems,” she noted.

Florin Duma, President of IMM România, stressed the critical need for digital education:

“I reiterate the crucial importance of digital education for the success of Romanian entrepreneurship and Romania’s effective integration into the global digital economy. Romania must contribute actively at the European level by driving the modernization of SMEs through digital solutions, specialist training, and accessing European funds.”

Răzvan Rughiniș, representing Innovation Labs, added that the event served as a platform to mobilize young talent and strengthen partnerships between academia, the private sector, and public authorities.

The event was more than a series of conferences—it was a demonstration of collaboration. In a context of rapid transformation and ongoing challenges, Romanian Digital Day 2025 proved that partnerships between the public and private sectors, combined with the active engagement of the academic community, can turn obstacles into development opportunities. Discussions emphasized the need to create a unified legal framework to support innovative companies and proposed allocating a significant portion of the European Competitiveness Plan to support the digitalization process. The importance of investing in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cybersecurity, was also highlighted.

Ultimately, the Brussels event marked a moment of reflection and strategic planning for Europe’s digital future. The active contribution of Transilvania IT Cluster and the European Digital Innovation Hub in Transilvania strengthened Cluj’s position as a key player on the European digital landscape.