Between the 29th and the 31st of May, Cluj IT Cluster (fosterer of Romanian Digital Innovation Ecosystem) actively participated in the Eurocities Annual Conference 2024, as a statement of genuine, innovative and sustainable digital transformation in Cluj-Napoca, ‘the Heart of Transylvania’.
Hosted for the first time in an Eastern European country, the event has reunited over 250 experts and public sector representatives from 30 countries, as well as 16 mayors. EAC took place as part of the long term organizational tradition of Eurocities, a network established in 1986, with the aim of tackling common problems and exchanging expertise among local governments, residents and specialists.
In the Expo Area, delegates of Cluj IT have showcased one of the ecosystem’s main projects, DIH4Society, which provides more than 2200+ extensive services for local public administrations, public health institutions and small & medium enterprises, including consultancy, professional training, investment consultancy and networking facilitation.
Eva Marina, Cluj IT delegate and owner of 20Robots Technologies, shared that the event provided a favorable context to exchange best practices with European experts, under the auspices of the 2024 theme: “Green. Innovative. Resilient”. She had this to say about the experience:
“It was with great joy that I participated as a delegate of the Cluj IT Cluster at the Eurocities 2024 event, held under the slogan “Green. Innovative. Resilient”. It was great to see Cluj-Napoca transforming into the European capital of public administration, bringing together representatives from all over Europe.
I had the opportunity to talk to delegates from different countries and explore best practices. This is the first time that the Eurocities General Assembly has taken place in Eastern Europe: history was made in Cluj-Napoca. The central theme of the conference, the future of Europe, was particularly relevant and inspiring.
I look forward to seeing how these discussions will be turned into concrete actions and how we can get involved in this endeavour.”
Also, Florina Pop, Cluj IT Delegate and principal CEO of PFG Finance, silver member of the Cluj IT Cluster, believes that
“it was a particularly valuable and inspiring experience, which offered PFG Finance the opportunity to present its green building lending initiatives, highlighting the company’s commitment to supporting projects that contribute to a more sustainable urban environment. We had the opportunity to learn from successful projects implemented in other European cities and identify new directions and strategies to improve our green financial product offering and actively contribute to the development of a healthier and more sustainable urban environment.
In conclusion, PFG Finance’s participation in the Eurocities conference in Cluj-Napoca was a valuable experience, confirming our commitment to sustainable finance and green innovations. We look forward to continuing to work together to support the development of green, innovative and resilient cities.”
This year’s conference has also represented a starting point for strengthening the cluster’s collaboration with local administrations and similar enterprises, in an attempt to set the stepping stone for future partnerships with Western European countries that serve as top notch leading models within the industry.
More than 1.000 participants have written history here, in Cluj-Napoca, alongside local elected politicians, international organizations, universities, ambassadors, counselors and media journalists. During the 2-days event, organized by the Cluj-Napoca Municipality, speakers have centered their efforts towards addressing evolving needs, pointing out the importance of resource mobilization to fight climate change and social inequalities, facilitate the development of green and digital transformation skills, consolidate the innovation capacity of European cities and not only.
In this regard, the conference has enabled the sharing of valuable insights into the transformative projects taking place in our region, forging new partnerships and fresh perspectives to drive common collective action and engage in shaping a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive future for european citizens.
At the end of The Eurocities Annual Conference 2024, Cluj IT is one step closer to increasing its capacity regarding the launching and implementation of digital transformation projects, through ingenuity, valuable expertise, links to international consortiums and its commitment to be an agent of innovation and change, for the mutual benefit of the cluster’s members and the society, as a whole.
“Like any event of this caliber, it was a perfect occasion for Cluj, as a welcoming host city, to showcase its vibrant innovation ecosystem. We, at Cluj IT, could not miss the opportunity, and decided to support the event and be present with a numerous delegation. Unlike almost any other event, EUROCITIES brings together decision makers in the public and private sectors, with focus on defining the future of urban environments in Europe and beyond.
We have seized the moment and built some interesting avenues for future collaboration. We are confident that Cluj IT and its members can contribute significantly to the development objectives of many of the participant organizations and communities.”
