There are moments when the conversation about digitalization moves beyond general concepts and reaches the point where it truly matters: the day to day reality of institutions and the needs of citizens. That was the case at the Digital Talk event dedicated to the digitalization of the public sector.
The evening began with a practical presentation on what concrete support for public authorities through TEDIHT actually looks like. We discussed the digital maturity audit as the starting point for any transformation process. For many institutions, this audit is the first clear diagnostic snapshot: where we stand, what works, where the bottlenecks are, and what needs to be prioritized.
The charts presented illustrated the progress of beneficiaries from previous calls, from T0, their entry into the project, to T1, one year later. Beyond percentages, what truly stands out is the journey itself. What did these institutions adopt? What did they change? Where was progress most visible?
One of the most significant increases was in digital skills. This was no coincidence. It followed employees’ participation in the free training programs organized within the project. Andra Tănase spoke about these programs, emphasizing how essential it is for digitalization to be supported by well prepared people, not just new infrastructure. From basic digital skills for civil servants to leadership training for digital transformation, each intervention plays a role in reshaping mindsets.
Laura Lămurean then introduced the TEDI chatbot, a tool designed to simplify the process of identifying suitable digital solutions for public authorities. In practice, it acts as a bridge between an institution’s needs and the expertise of IT companies, reducing search time and bringing greater clarity in selecting the right partners.
The central moment of the evening was the mini masterclass delivered by Nicolae Urs, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences within Babeș Bolyai University, who placed the discussion in a broader framework: why do we actually need digitalization?
One of the messages that stayed with us was this: we must start from the need. In the case of the public sector, from the citizen’s need. If we start with technology, we risk digitizing cumbersome processes without simplifying them. If we start with the citizen, we can redesign public services to make them clearer, faster, and more accessible.
Digitalization is not just about equipment or applications. It is about trust, administrative capacity, leadership, and the willingness to embrace change. It means understanding which problem you are solving and for whom.
The intervention of the representative of the Bihor Prefecture, Eugen Antal, brought the conversation even closer to reality. It offered a direct and honest perspective on the challenges within public institutions, on administrative constraints, but also on openness to collaboration and concrete solutions. It was precisely this combination of vision and hands on experience that gave depth and substance to the dialogue.
The evening concluded with a pitching session, where TEDIHT beneficiaries, partners, and members of Transilvania IT Cluster presented solutions and ideas applicable to public administration. It was yet another proof that the regional ecosystem has the resources needed to support digital transformation, when there is space for dialogue and collaboration.
An important moment of the evening was the launch of the Permanent Working Group for the Digitalization of Public Administration – North-West Region. The initiative aims to create a stable framework for collaboration between public institutions, academia, and the regional innovation ecosystem, where challenges are discussed in a practical manner and solutions are built together.
This is not a one-off initiative, but the beginning of an active community that will operate through regular meetings, thematic interventions, and a genuine exchange of experience, with a clear objective: to support institutions in preparing and implementing digital transformation projects.
This Digital Talk was not just a networking event. It was a step forward in building a community dedicated to the digitalization of public administration in the North West region. A community that starts from real needs, speaks openly about challenges, and works together to find solutions.
