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 was in the spotlight at the European Parliament during the third edition of Romanian Digital Day 2025, which took place in Brussels on March 18 at the initiative of Victor Negrescu, Vice President of the European Parliament. 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 placed a strong emphasis on Cluj’s active role, highlighting the city’s emergence as a regional innovation hub contributing to shaping the continent’s digital future.

The entire day revolved around thematic discussions addressing various aspects of digital transformation. Participants explored ways to leverage technology to enhance economic competitiveness, support startup growth, and bridge digital divides across European regions.

The event featured thematic panels and debates focusing 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

Among the key speakers at this edition were:

• Ekaterina ZAHARIEVA, European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation

• Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for Social Rights, 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.

As the coordinator of The European Digital Innovation Hub in Transilvania, Transilvania IT Cluster organized the event’s third discussion panel. In her opening remarks, Bianca Muntean, Co-founder and Manager of Transilvania IT Cluster, emphasized the importance of collaboration and highlighted Romania’s and Cluj’s contributions:

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

Bianca also stressed the need for centralization, coordination, and resource integration to achieve the desired outcomes—areas where Digital Innovation Hubs and clusters excel by bringing together key stakeholders: companies, universities, and public institutions.

Similarly, Ana-Maria Stancu, CEO of RoboHub, underscored the importance of expanding access to technology, noting that technological advancement should not be a privilege for a select few, but a benefit for all citizens:

"The rapid advancement of technology should not be a privilege reserved for a select few but should equitably improve the lives of all citizens. To achieve this, it is essential to invest in digital education and cybersecurity skills, ensuring that everyone is prepared to navigate the increasingly complex digital ecosystems of today and the future."

Florin Duma, President of IMM România, highlighted the crucial role of digital education:

"I reiterate the critical importance of digital education for the success of Romanian entrepreneurship and for Romania’s effective integration into the global digital economy. Romania must actively contribute at the European level, fostering the modernization of SMEs through digital solutions, training specialists, and attracting EU funding."

Răzvan Rughiniș, representing Innovation Labs, emphasized that the event served as a platform for mobilizing young people and strengthening partnerships between academia, the private sector, and public authorities.

More than just a series of conferences, Romanian Digital Day 2025 was a demonstration of collaboration. In a context of rapid transformations and continuous challenges, the event showcased that public-private partnerships, combined with the active involvement of academia, can turn obstacles into opportunities for development. Discussions focused on the need for a unified legal framework to support innovative companies and on allocating a significant portion of the European Competitiveness Plan to support digitalization efforts. The importance of investing in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cybersecurity was also emphasized.

In conclusion, 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 further strengthened Cluj’s position as a key player in the European digital landscape.