Real stories about how collaboration between academia, research, and business can accelerate digital transformation in Romania.

On April 9 in Cluj-Napoca, Digital Talk took place as an event organized by Transilvania IT Cluster within the framework of The European Digital Innovation Hub in Transilvania (TEDIHT). This gathering was dedicated to open dialogue among entrepreneurs, researchers, and digital experts, and provided an opportunity to learn about the success stories emerging from the TEDIHT project.

The event was inaugurated by Bianca Muntean, TEDIHT coordinator and manager at Transilvania IT Cluster, who emphasized the importance of regional ecosystem collaborations for accelerating digital transformation. The agenda featured a panel discussion, a speed networking session, and an informal networking moment.

Panel Discussion: Digitalization as a Collective Effort

The panel featured both beneficiaries of TEDIHT and experts from within the consortium. Among the beneficiaries were representatives such as Anca Goron (AVA Research), Daniel Maticu (River Company), Roman Cuciuc (Vending Technological Solutions), and Radu Mărginean (Transilvania Quantum). Joining them were experts: Alexandru Roja (Transilvania IT Cluster), Oana Raita (INCDTIM), Anca Mărginean (UTCN), and Darius Bufnea (UBB).

Anca Goron explained the crucial role of TEDIHT in facilitating collaboration between the academic and business worlds—a relationship that is otherwise difficult to build. She even drew a memorable parallel with the well-known saying, “it takes a village to raise a child,” arguing that a strong community is essential to nurture a startup into a fully-fledged company—or even a unicorn.

Darius Bufnea added, “This project is one of the few opportunities where universities can take the work developed in labs and concretely apply it in the real world.”

Professor Anca Mărginean from UTCN stressed that partnerships benefit both sides, as companies bring new ideas, questions, and challenges. “Universities get to see firsthand the real issues of the industry that otherwise remain theoretical. Romania has a real chance to close the gap if we support such collaborations,” she noted.

When Technology is Expensive, Partnership Makes It Accessible

Radu Mărginean from Transilvania Quantum provided an exceptional example of a project beneficiary through his work in quantum computer software. Although his domain primarily focuses on software for quantum computers, he collaborated with INCDTIM as part of TEDIHT to run a quantum algorithm on a real device. While Romania does not yet have a fully operational quantum computer, INCDTIM’s access to a similar device allowed them to spend dozens of hours in the laboratory and achieve significant progress—something they would not have managed on their own. The researchers at INCDTIM, themselves impressed by the project, expressed a keen interest in continuing the collaboration, even though the program had theoretically ended.

Oana Raita further explained that this type of collaboration was a tailor-made service “designed around the client’s material” because they discovered the client’s needs only after getting to know them. “We are open to the real need, which is not necessarily uncovered during a formal interview, but emerges through discussion, while working together, and after spending time together,” she said. “It’s a long-term partnership, and we learn from TEDIHT’s beneficiaries—we also need partners for research projects. We pursue innovation, not just digitalization,” Oana added, underscoring that they provide not only equipment but also expert guidance—a critical element. “We deliver services in a consortium, as complementary partners.”

Daniel Maticu, representing River Company, admitted that because his company operates within the industrial sector, the aspect of digitalization was initially set aside. However, with the help of their partners, they realized it needed to be integrated—because it could help them grow, become more competitive, and better understand their customers’ needs faster than the competition. Daniel also mentioned the digital maturity score, which started at 26% at the beginning of their collaboration with TEDIHT and has now reached 76%, well above the industry average. Alexandru Roja, the expert who worked with River Company, noted that the company’s willingness to openly discuss its needs was crucial to the success of the collaboration: “They were transparent about their requirements, and we strove to meet those needs as effectively as possible.”

Darius Bufnea delivered a powerful message: “We need education and a willingness to learn. Companies must understand that if they don’t adopt new technologies, someone else will—and they will be left behind.”

The discussion concluded with Roman Cuciuc from Vending Technological Solutions, a recent addition to the project through Call 3, which is still open. Roman stressed that today, a business must be competitive by relying not only on manpower but also on technology and automation. “Manual processes are no longer viable in most cases. On our own, we wouldn’t have the capacity to fully utilize artificial intelligence. We need experts to guide us—especially in areas like AI and cybersecurity,” he concluded.

Conclusion: Innovation is a Team Effort

Digital Talk clearly demonstrated that genuine innovation happens when different sectors come together—when entrepreneurs want to learn, when universities step out of their ivory towers, and when research goes hand in hand with industry—and vice versa. At the core of this effort, TEDIHT plays an essential role by bringing together resources, people, and a shared vision to build robust, relevant, and sustainable digital ecosystems.