PIN Connect 2025 brought together over 90 leaders of Iași’s tech industry in an event dedicated to people, ideas, and strategic connections

Fab Lab Iași and PIN Magazine, in partnership with Orange România, organized on December 10 the first edition of PIN Connect 2025, the annual event that gathers the local tech community to discuss the strategic directions of the regional digital ecosystem. Over 80 participants – entrepreneurs, IT specialists, university representatives, and local institutions – met at Zbor Hub Iași for an evening dedicated to the three essential pillars of the community: people. ideas. connection.

This year’s edition highlighted Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Digital Transformation, topics discussed during an extended expert panel, as well as during interactive presentations and networking sessions. The meeting also aimed to highlight the key organizations’ plans for 2026 in Iași.

AI, Security, and Digitalization – central themes for the local tech ecosystem

In the first part of the event, dedicated to the dialogue on “Digital Transformation – where to?”, participants discussed the evolution of AI technologies and their impact on developing innovative products, the role of academia in adopting emerging technologies, and how regulations such as NIS2 shape security practices and funding opportunities for SMEs and startups.

Participants had the opportunity to hear valuable perspectives from experts such as:

• Eugen Bușoiu – on the capabilities of the local tech community and the skills needed in AI projects
• Adrian Iftene – on the adoption of AI technologies in education and curricular changes
• Emanuel Mierluț – on the security standards required for company digitalization
• Ioan Constantin – on how Orange România supports SMEs in their digital transformation
• Cristina Baghiu – on the support and opportunities offered by the European EDIH digitalization infrastructure

“Orange România has been supporting the regional tech ecosystem for many years, and collaborations with communities such as Fab Lab Iași and PIN Magazine are fundamental. SMEs now have access to technologies that are affordable, scalable, and secure, enabling them to rapidly transform their business models. I believe the upcoming years will bring strong acceleration, especially through integrated AI solutions and security models adapted to new types of attacks generated by AI agents,” said Cristian Patachia, Development & Innovation Manager, Orange România.

“PIN Connect is not just an event, but a space where the tech ecosystem of Iași meets to create common directions. The accelerated growth of AI and cybersecurity forces us to think more strategically and collaboratively. The fact that we have here entrepreneurs, professors, innovators, and industry leaders shows that Iași is ready to play a major role in Romanian technology,” emphasized Dan Zaharia, founder of Fab Lab Iași and PIN Magazine.

This first edition focused on community and on creating an open context for dialogue, allowing representatives from different fields to express their intentions for 2026, as well as to ask for the involvement of those present in the projects of their organizations or institutions.