Collaboration is the new competition in Cluj IT – The only Cluster in Romania involved in 3 EuroClusters, with opportunities of over 3 million euros for European SMEs

● The representatives of Cluj IT Cluster member companies discussed the opportunities for collaboration at the IT Managers Club;
● Starting from the principle of collaboration, CLUJ IT is part of three EuroCluster projects that give SMEs the opportunity to access over 3 million euros in direct financing, through cascade financing schemes, until 2025;
● Cluj IT Cluster is the only cluster in Romania involved in 3 EuroCluster projects;

The Club of Managers in IT (CMIT), an event regularly organized by the Cluj IT Cluster, is the place where the representatives of the most titled profile association in Romania meet to debate methods of expanding the ecosystem, of making the activity of companies in the industry more efficient, of better preparation in front of the competition, but also to present the latest domestic and international opportunities.

The most recent CMIT meeting took place on February 16, in Cluj-Napoca, one of the items on the agenda being the one dedicated to “the power of collaboration”. The president of Cluj IT Cluster, Stelian Brad, gave a presentation to those present that focused on the relevance of cooperation in the IT industry, as the main driver of innovation in a world where rapid changes are the only constant.

“We managed to build a strong and united community around Cluj IT, creating the framework that assists and encourages the collaboration of companies and universities in business projects. This framework provides transparency and trust, which has led to success stories that deserve to be known. We are proud of the fact that our collaboration model is a source of inspiration and motivation, thus being able to face any challenge, to make the world a better place through technology,” says Stelian Brad.

Moreover, the principle of collaboration is the cornerstone of all actions taken and implemented by the Cluj IT ecosystem, both in everyday activities and in ongoing projects.

The most recent example in this regard are the 3 EuroCluster type projects, which bring small and medium-sized companies direct financing, in the form of grants, each project at the same time representing an entry point for them on the European market in priority directions such as: accessing the European health market, strategic partnerships between companies in the digital ecosystems and the field of production or the development of business models and innovative projects in the mobile-interior, IT and energy sectors.

Cumulatively, the three projects bring to SMEs in Europe the opportunity to access over 3 million euros in direct financing, through cascade financing schemes until 2025. Companies ready to take the first steps towards entering the European market are invited to follow the cluster channels (clujit.ro web page and social networks) for details on the first calls for applications and support services through this type of project.

Cluj IT Cluster is the only cluster in Romania involved in 3 Eurocluster projects.

Emil Ștețco, the representative of the Zetta Cloud company, one of the newest members of the Cluj IT Cluster, said that the experience of the company he leads shows him that market opportunities can be addressed more easily and efficiently in a collaborative system where each member of a formed consortium brings its best.

“At Zetta Cloud, we firmly believe that working in collaboration with other companies is essential to gain a broad perspective on the market and to develop innovative solutions that meet the needs of our customers. We are proud to be part of the Cluj IT Cluster and to collaborate with members of our business community to accelerate innovation and help create a better future through our artificial intelligence solutions that bring real benefits to society,” says Emil Ștețco.

The Club of IT Managers, organized by Cluj IT, facilitated, in a less formal setting, productive discussions of managers from the software industry, who appreciated collaboration as the “new competition”, and the opportunities offered by the cluster as worthwhile to be widely known, as is the case with the three major EuroCluster projects.