Wrap-up of the 3rd edition of the ANIS International Summit

+ 50 Romanian and international experts from private & public sector and academia shared their perspectives on the theme of this year’s edition: From Scale to Innovation: Romania’s next competitive edge.

+ 300 participants engaged with us in conversations about the future of IT in:

• 4 panel discussions
• 3 roundtables
• 2 fireside chats

Take a look at the main highlights of the third edition of the ANIS International Summit!

The opening session of the ANIS International Summit served as a powerful confirmation of the strategic importance of the technology sector in Romania’s current economic landscape. The presence of high-level officials from the Presidential Administration, the Government, European and international institutions underscored a unified commitment to digital transformation. The discourse transcended simple industry updates, focusing instead on how the software and services sector acts as a fundamental pillar for the country’s growth.

➡️ Radu Burnete, Presidential Advisor within the Presidential Administration, emphasized that Romania must learn to perform in a context marked by systemic global instability and argued that the country’s future competitiveness will depend on integrating AI, automation, and digitalization across the economy and public administration. He described the tech industry as a potential “national operating system” for Romania and stressed that legislative stability, strategic direction, and stronger collaboration between the private sector and policymakers are essential for attracting high-value R&D investments and sustaining long-term economic growth.

➡️ Oana Gheorghiu, Interim Vice Prime Minister, highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration in modernizing the Romanian state through “digital-first” policies and administrative reform. She underlined that digitalization is not only about launching new platforms, but about redesigning public processes, reducing bureaucracy, increasing transparency, and improving citizen interaction with the state, including through initiatives such as the digital wallet and the integration of local tech expertise into public infrastructure.

➡️ Yasser El-Gammal, Country Manager for Romania and Hungary at the World Bank, highlighted Romania’s transition from an investment destination to a regional engine for innovation and economic growth. He identified digital exports and technology-driven industries as key drivers for achieving a high-income economy status, while also pointing to the need for stronger collaboration between academia, the private sector, and public institutions, increased venture capital, and a greater focus on scaling human capital and improving the real integration of technology into business operations.

➡️ Victor Negrescu, Vice-President of the European Parliament, focused on Romania’s potential role within Europe’s digital future and stressed that competitiveness in the AI era will be determined by innovation capacity, digital infrastructure, computing power, and the ability to transform research into economic value. He argued that Europe cannot achieve technological leadership through regulation alone and called for major investments in AI, green technologies, and scalable infrastructure, while highlighting the need for a national competitiveness strategy that connects European funding, research, universities, startups, and public administration into a coherent innovation ecosystem.

A common message emerged throughout the discussions: Romania has the talent, capabilities, and strategic opportunities to become a stronger regional technology player, but success will depend on implementation speed, strategic vision, and the ability to scale innovation across both the public and private sectors.

ANIS Study Lunch 
Stimulating the transition to a more innovative ICT industry in Romania 

A key moment of the summit was the official launch of the much-anticipated study, developed by Implement Consulting Group, for ANIS: Stimulating the transition to a more innovative ICT industry in Romania. This study serves as a roadmap for the next stage of sectoral growth, offering a comprehensive analysis of the transition towards a high-value, innovation-driven ecosystem in the tech industry. 

The launch featured a detailed presentation by Eva Rytter Sunesen (Co-Founder & Partner, Implement Consulting Group) and Corina Vasile (Executive Director, ANIS), who emphasized both the analytical data and the strategic context included in the research. 

➡️ According to the study, Romania could generate between:

• EUR 6 billion additional GDP, 45,000 indirect jobs, and EUR 13 billion additional fiscal revenues under a moderate growth scenario comparable to the Czech Republic;
• up to EUR 40 billion additional GDP, 295,000 jobs, and EUR 88 billion fiscal revenues under a more ambitious trajectory inspired by Poland’s development model.

➡️ The study also highlighted the current impact of the ICT sector in Romania:

• contributing approximately 8% of the country’s gross value added;
• generating EUR 24 billion in turnover;
• reaching productivity levels of around EUR 47,000 per employee.

➡️ At the same time, we noted that without targeted support measures, the sector’s annual growth rate could decline significantly — from 17% during 2021–2023 to approximately 2%.

➡️ Among the key recommendations presented:

• strategic use of European funds for investments with strong multiplier effects in innovation and digitalization;
• redesigning existing support mechanisms, not only creating new funding schemes;
• developing a clear national innovation roadmap supported by impact assessments, working groups, and implementation tools;
• aligning Romania’s development approach with successful international scaling models;
• strengthening cooperation between government institutions and the innovation ecosystem;
• accelerating public sector digitalization and positioning the state as a “first customer” for innovative companies.

Romania already has strong technical talent, innovative ideas, and access to European funding, but needs better coordination, stronger implementation capacity, and long-term strategic alignment to turn these assets into sustainable economic competitiveness and growth.

The full study and the qualitative research highlighting the views of Romanian entrepreneurs can be accessed HERE. 
*We also have an AI Assistant to help you explore the findings of our two studies. 

Panel I Regulatory Check: When Policy Helps – And When It Holds Us Back

The first panel of the day addressed one of the most critical challenges for the Romanian tech sector: the dual role of regulation as both a safeguard and a potential catalyst for growth. The discussion focused on how to craft a legislative environment that incentivizes R&D and high-value investment without stifling the creative pulse of the industry. The debate revolved around the central question of how policymakers can strike a balance between fostering rapid technological advancement and ensuring institutional accountability.The discussion was expertly moderated by Mihai Matei (Vicepresident, ANIS), who steered the conversation toward practical solutions for an innovation-friendly landscape, featuring a diverse group of high-level decision-makers:Ambrozie-Irineu Darău, Interim Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship, and TourismDragoș Pîslaru, Interim Minister of Investments and European ProjectsSvetlana Stoilova, Lead Adviser, Digital Economy Working Group, BusinessEuropePavel Popescu, Vice President, National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania (ANCOM)Aurel-Cătălin Giulescu, President, National Authority for Digitalization of Romania (ADR)Antonio Rădoi, Director, National Authority for Research (ANC)The panel concluded that regulation should not be viewed as a barrier, but as a framework for trust. The consensus among the speakers was that for Romania to transition from a service hub to an innovation leader, the government must adopt an “experimental mindset,” allowing for agile policy-making that can keep pace with the exponential rate of technological change.

Fireside Chat From Fast Followers to Innovation Leaders: Lessons from CEE

This session transitioned from national policy to a broader regional outlook through a dynamic fireside chat. This segment brought together leading voices from the CEE Digital Coalition to dissect how neighboring economies—specifically Poland, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine—are successfully pivoting from being “fast followers” to becoming recognized innovation leaders. Moderated by Cezara Panait (Board Member, ANIS), the conversation focused on what Romania can realistically adapt from its peers to foster a more resilient and competitive ICT environment.  The speakers in this session were: Jaromir Hanzal, Executive Director, Association for Applied Research in IT (Czech Republic) & Board Member, DIGITALEUROPEMaciej Korus, Project Manager, Digital Poland Association/CEE Digital CoalitionMarta Romaniak, IT Ukraine Association Ambassador & SVP Corporate Development at Sigma Software GroupKey ideas discussed: ➡️ A key takeaway was that ICT sector development is driven not only by talent and technology, but by the ability of governments and industry to design coherent, stable, long-term policy frameworks. ➡️ Another central theme was the importance of political consensus and strategic continuity. Continuous dialogue between the public and private sectors was highlighted as essential for designing fiscal and innovation policies aligned with real industry needs. ➡️ The discussion also addressed the role of fiscal incentives for R&D and intellectual property. Instruments such as IP Box regimes and enhanced R&D tax deductions were presented as effective tools for retaining innovation, talent, and value creation within national economies, rather than allowing them to be exported to other ecosystems after development. ➡️ Education and STEM talent development emerged as a critical pillar, alongside the need for policies that not only produce skilled professionals but also create the conditions for them to remain and build within their home economies. ➡️ A strong focus was placed on digital resilience and the role of technological infrastructure in ensuring economic continuity even under extreme conditions. Public sector digitalization, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and integration between the state and the IT ecosystem were identified as essential enablers of operational resilience and sustained access to international markets during periods of crisis. The overarching conclusion of the session was that digital competitiveness cannot be achieved through isolated measures. It requires collaboration, policy continuity, robust infrastructure, and a consistent focus on transforming technology and research into sustained economic advantage across the region.

Panel II Industry Reality Check: What It Actually Takes to Build Innovation

This panel pivoted towards the internal mechanics of business transformation, addressing the shift from cost-efficiency models to high-value creation. Panelists explored the real-world complexities of building R&D capacity and the cultural “risk appetite” necessary to support breakthrough solutions in a competitive global market.Moderated by Diana Sipos (Board Member, ANIS), the panel brought together a mix of economic expertise and executive leadership to address the barriers to innovation:Lukasz Marek Mark, Senior Economist, World BankAndrei Savin, General Manager, BRINEL | IQANTOOctavian Ichim, CEO, Schwarz Digits RomaniaCristina Șerban, Director of Product Marketing, BitdefenderCătălin Grigorescu, Managing Partner, BPV Grigorescu StefanicaRadu Postolache, President, ANISKey ideas discussed:➡️ The transition from outsourcing to innovation is a structural shift, not an incremental upgrade, requiring a fundamental redefinition of how companies operate, compete, and create value globally. ➡️ Building sustainable R&D capacity depends on organizational culture, leadership mindset, and a stronger appetite for calculated risk and experimentation. ➡️ A key challenge is balancing short-term commercial pressures with long-term investments in innovation and competitiveness. ➡️ A central topic was the ability of the local ecosystem to connect innovation with international markets, capital flows, and cross-sector collaboration between corporates, startups, and academia. ➡️ The effectiveness of innovation scaling depends on how well research output is translated into commercial applications and integrated into global value chains. The overall consensus was that innovation is a cultural and organizational transformation, and Romania’s ICT sector must evolve from being primarily a talent exporter to a solution creator that retains and scales value within the local ecosystem.

Round Table on the Cyber Resilience Act Between Compliance and Opportunity

In parallel with the second panel we organized a roundtable discussion that provided a deep dive into the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), shifting the narrative from the burden of new regulations to the strategic opportunities they unlock. The session focused on how Romanian companies can leverage these high European standards to gain a “trust premium” on the international market, ensuring that compliant and secure products become a hallmark of local engineering.The dialogue was moderated by Mădălin Staniu (TF Cybersecurity & Defence Leader, ANIS) and brought together key institutional voices:Daniel Ionescu, Senior Cybersecurity Manager, DNSCAna Maria Bușoniu, Director General, NCC RomaniaAurel-Cătălin Giulescu, President, Authority for Digitalization RomaniaThe discussion centered on turning mandatory security requirements into a catalyst for market scale. A primary focus was the evolving nature of technical standards and the strategic importance of early alignment for industry players. The conversation highlighted the role of national authorities—not just as regulators, but as facilitators—in helping companies navigate these requirements through institutional support and specialized funding.

Panel III AI as a Growth Multiplier – Powered by ADOBE

The third panel of the ANIS International Summit shifted the focus towards the most transformative force shaping the global tech landscape: artificial intelligence. The discussion positioned AI not as a passing technological trend, but as a structural driver of productivity, competitiveness, and the reinvention of business and public service models, framing Romania’s current moment as a critical inflection point between acceleration and stagnation.The session was moderated by Radu Puchiu (Technology & Society Program Director, Aspen Institute Romania) and featured a diverse group of leaders from academia, the tech industry, and the private sector:Mihnea Costoiu, Rector, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA BucharestPaul Chiriță, Senior VP of Engineering, AdobeGeorgiana Andrei, Commercial Director, Regina MariaAndrei Rădoi, Board member, ANISKey ideas discussed: ➡️ AI is rapidly becoming a core determinant of productivity and competitiveness, fundamentally reshaping business models across industries. ➡️ The key shift is from isolated experimentation to large-scale AI adoption in both the private sector and public administration. ➡️ Romania’s competitive advantage will depend on its ability to combine strong technical talent with domain expertise and real-world industrial applications of AI. Moreover, governance, trust, and regulatory clarity were identified as essential enablers for accelerating AI adoption at scale. ➡️ The discussion highlighted both opportunities and challenges for education systems and labour markets, which must adapt to rapidly changing skill requirements. Universities—particularly major technical institutions in Bucharest, Cluj, Iași, and Timișoara—play a central role in applied research and collaboration with industry. ➡️ AI is already generating tangible impact in sectors such as healthcare and engineering, with significant potential to improve public services. ➡️ Romania and Europe face a persistent structural gap in turning research and ideas into scalable startups and globally competitive products. ➡️ A recurring issue is the weak connection between the state and the innovation ecosystem, which limits technology transfer and startup growth. While Romania is advancing initiatives in AI, quantum technologies, and semiconductors, implementation has often been slowed by bureaucratic barriers. ➡️ Reported public investment in innovation is partially inflated by indirect fiscal incentives rather than direct, strategic state funding. ➡️ Private companies and industry partnerships remain key drivers of applied research and innovation activity in Romania. The overall conclusion was that without consistent funding, coherent policy direction, and deeper integration between the state and the innovation ecosystem, Romania risks generating talent and ideas that are commercialised elsewhere rather than domestically.

Round Table on regional innovation ecosistems:  A Place-Based Approach to Romania’s Innovation Transition

In parallel with the AI discussions on the main stage, this roundtable session pivoted toward a “place-based” approach to growth, examining how Romania’s regional hubs are essential to the national transition from scale to innovation. The dialogue emphasized that the next leap in competitiveness will not come from isolated efforts, but from the strength of local ecosystems where academia, the private sector, and public authorities collaborate to create specialized innovation corridors.The session was moderated by Vlad Andriescu (Editor-in-Chief, Start-up.ro) and featured key leaders from Romania’s most active regional clusters and hubs:Andrei Cosmin Muntean, Co-Founder & Programs Managing Director, Vest VentureBianca Muntean, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Transilvania IT ClusterCristina Baghiu, Hub Coordinator, Digital Innovation ZoneCătălin Mihacea, Vice President, Sibiu IT ClusterThe conversation centered on the strategic importance of regional clusters in aligning Romania with European innovation priorities, highlighting that while Bucharest remains a central hub, the real “engine room” of growth lies in cities like Cluj, Timișoara, Iași, and Sibiu. Participants emphasized the role of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) as vital intermediaries that translate EU policies into practical growth for local SMEs, arguing that a successful transition to an innovation-driven economy requires moving away from “one-size-fits-all” strategies. Ultimately, the session concluded that national competitiveness is a mosaic of regional successes, requiring an empowerment of local ecosystems to leverage their unique strengths—from deep tech to healthcare—through better synchronization between local initiatives and national funding frameworks.

Panel IV Securing the Digital Future

The final panel of the day addressed the increasingly critical intersection between digital transformation and cybersecurity, framing security not as a supporting IT function, but as a foundational pillar of trust, economic resilience, and the sustainable development of Romania’s digital ecosystem.The session was moderated by Cătălina Dodu (Board Member, ANIS) and featured a high-level group of experts from the regulatory, defense, and private sectors:Sorin Moldovan, State Secretary, Ministry of DefenseBianca Decu, Senior Cyber Security Manager, National Cybersecurity Directorate (DNSC)Andrei Avădanei, CEO, Bit SentinelCosmin Stanciu, Aerospace & Defense Business Group Manager, AROBSKey ideas discussed: ➡️ Cybersecurity was framed as a critical infrastructure function that goes beyond IT, directly underpinning economic resilience, continuity of services, and trust in both public and private digital systems as Romania’s digital footprint expands. ➡️ The discussion highlighted a necessary shift from reactive incident management to proactive cyber resilience, emphasizing prevention, preparedness, rapid response, and recovery as integrated components of modern security strategies. ➡️ Public–private cooperation was identified as essential for protecting critical infrastructure, improving situational awareness, and ensuring coordinated responses to increasingly sophisticated and geopolitically linked cyber threats. ➡️ While regulatory frameworks provide structure and minimum standards, the panel stressed that real effectiveness depends on operational capacity, implementation discipline, and a significant shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, which remains a systemic bottleneck requiring sustained investment in education and upskilling. The overall conclusion was that cybersecurity is now inseparable from digital transformation itself, and Romania’s long-term competitiveness will depend on embedding security-by-design principles, strengthening institutional collaboration, and building continuous resilience across the entire digital ecosystem.

Round Table on AI:  Accelerating Workforce AI Readiness in Rapidly Evolving Markets POWERED BY ADOBE

Running in parallel with the final panel, this session addressed the human dimension of the technological revolution, focusing on how organizations can rapidly equip their workforce for the AI era. The discussion emphasized the urgency of closing skills gaps by embedding artificial intelligence into everyday workflows and building continuous learning systems capable of keeping pace with the accelerated rate of technological change.The session was moderated by Adrian Seceleanu (Business Hi-Tech Editor, Ziarul Financiar) and featured expertise from Adobe’s leadership team alongside academic representation:Paul Chiriță Ph.D., Senior Director Creativity & Productivity, Adobe Systems RomaniaDaniel Barbu Ph.D., Director of EMEA Security, AdobeMihaela Dobre, Director of Program Management & Business Operations, AdobeRăzvan Bălan, Sr. Software Architect Adobe Analytics, Adobe Systems RomaniaSimona Caraiman, Vice-Rector, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of IașiThe debate focused on the fact that AI adoption starts with individual experimentation but is progressively shifting toward structured, organization-wide practices. Early adoption is driven by internal champions who test tools, demonstrate value, and accelerate knowledge sharing across teams.In more mature organizations, AI becomes embedded in role expectations and performance evaluation, where effectiveness matters more than mere usage. As adoption scales, standardization becomes essential, requiring shared practices, clear inputs, defined output criteria, and consistent workflows, along with the ability to assess AI-generated results.AI readiness is an ongoing maturity process, defined less by access to tools and more by the ability to standardize usage, measure impact, ensure secure deployment, and consistently translate AI into productivity, innovation, and competitiveness.

We wrapped up the evening with the anual ANIS Gala where we had the honor of recognizing and celebrating outstanding achievements in the IT industry. During the Gala, we presented the IT Industry Excellence Awards, acknowledging individuals and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional innovation, leadership, and contributions to the growth and development of the sector.

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