OUR AGENDA.

Plenary session: The Power of 1|0: 10 years of innovation driven progress. Where do we go from here?

Speakers:

• Mr. Stelian Brad, President, Cluj IT Cluster
• Mr. László Borbely, State Counselor, Coordinator of the Department for Sustainable Development
• Mr. Dragos Vlad, President, The Authority for the Digitalization of Romania
• Mr. Alin Ioanes, CEO, ROMBAT
• Mr. Leontin Toderici, COO Banca Transilvania.

Moderator:
Mr. Andrei Kelemen, Executive Director, Cluj IT Cluster

After 10 years since Cluj IT Cluster was founded, innovation and technological progress have become embedded in the economic fabric of Cluj-Napoca and, by extension and emulation, in other parts of Romania as well.

Cluj IT Cluster has played a significant part in this transformation.

While we will be looking at what was achieved during all these years, the panel will focus on what should follow during the next decade. Sustainable development, resilience, smart communities and green innovation are part of the European and global agenda.

Our speakers will engage in a discussion about the future of innovation, about the innovations of the future and about how technology will be able to support the ambitious objectives that Europe is targeting, albeit in a difficult and challenging context.

Panel: Breakthrough technologies: European Innovation Council a game changer workprogramme (RO)

Speakers:

• Ms. Ariana Nastaseanu, Project Adviser at European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)
• Mr. Florin Paun, Directeur Collaboration Scientifique at ARESIA and European Innovation Council Jury Member 
• Ms. Madalina Nazare, Director Strategic Partnerships at Digital Catapult and European Innovation Council Jury Member 
• Mr. Mihai Sfintescu, Managing Director at  Abilito Capital and European Innovation Council Jury Member 
• Mr. Cristian Dascalu, Managing Partner at Techcelerator.Co and European Innovation Council Jury Member

Moderator: 

Ms. Mihaela Tudor, CEO & Founder, 2Value

Panel: The role of the supporting European networks for innovation and digitalization (RO)

Speakers:

• Ms. Andreea Potinteu, EEN expert and Project Manager of BISNET Transylvania Project
• Mr. Radu Rujan, Coordinator Financing Projects DIH4Society, North-West Region
• Ms. Irina Toma, FIT DIH, Center Region
• Mr. Delian Coroama, Innovation Expert at Digital Innovation Zone, North-East Region

Moderator:
Paula Comanescu, Coordinator SMEs relationship Cluj IT Cluster

The session will take place in the form of a moderated discussion focusing on the area of digitization and digital transformation among SMEs, processes supported through the European support networks EDIHs and EEN.

The sequence will bring together representatives at the level of central public administration, representatives of regional chambers of commerce as points of contact and support in the context of EEN as well as representatives of national digital innovation centers part of EDIH network.

09:00-13:00 CEST
10:00-14:00 EEST

Closed session for EEN experts

Webinar: Decentralized training – Tech Transfer (EN)

Speaker:

• Florin Paun, Directeur Collaboration Scientifique, ARESIA

Moderator:

Ms. Mihaela Aluas, Senior researcher and associated lecturer, Babes Bolyai University

The overall aim of the workshop is to give the EEN network experts a broader view of what Technology Transfer entails and the value it brings to potential customers, by deepening the theoretical aspects and demonstrating them through practical applications.

The training is organized under the framework of BISNET TRANSYLVANIA project. 

Workshop: Internationalization in support of innovation (EN)
Speaker:

• Florin Păun, Chief Science & Partnership Officer RAFAUT Group

14:00 – 15:00 CEST
15:00 – 16:00 EEST
Online, via Streamevent

Keynote speech: Human Centric Operations – Artificial Intelligence Breakthrough (EN)

Speaker: 

• Mr. Lucian Munteanu, Chief Experimentation, NATO HUMINT Centre of Excellence

Human-to-human engagement remains the main driver of progress, the quality of this interaction paving the way to success. 

Whether military or civilian environment, we strive to improve our capabilities to preserve competitive advantage in a fast-pacing world. Artificial Intelligence is a stepping stone on the way of this human-to-human engagement, abruptly changing the game.

Webinar: AI in a world of crises (EN)

Speakers: 

• Mr. Marius Silaghi, Professor, Florida Institute of Technology
• Mr. Andrea Caccia, Independent Consultant, Studio Caccia
• Mr. Giorgos Verdi, Junior Policy Officer, European Digital SME Alliance

Moderator:

Mr. Marin Iuga, CEO, Intertechnica Business Solutions

How is AI influencing and being used in the context of current world crises?

Is AI a defining technology?

The webinar will focus on finding the answer to the 2 questions by addressing several perspectives represented by the speakers present, relevant actors in flag organizations at the level of the European Union from the extra-European space, at the level of research institutes in the USA. 

Workshop: Learning & skills for the future: Developing Metaskills to build a profitable and durable entrepreneurial future (RO)

Speaker:

• Mr. Doru Supeala, Managing Director, SPOR

How do you produce, validate and implement profitable ideas in a structured way?

Not every good idea becomes a successful product or service. Innovation involves a complicated process, where new ideas need validation. We will walk together through the journey from imagination to innovation, through creativity and invention, understanding what a creative idea needs to achieve commercial success. 

Organized under: Cluj Future of Work

Webinar: Romanian AI – a viable concept? (RO)

Speakers:

• Mr. Radu Orghidan, Vice President, Cognitive Computing at Endava
• Mr. Bogdan Cretu, CEO, ProjectIX Software
• Mr. Razvan Florian, President, Romanian Institute of Science and Technology

Moderator:
Mr. Marin Iuga, CEO, Intertechnica Business Solutions

Moderated discussion carried out with the participation of WG DI members from Cluj IT that will address the challenges that Romanian companies have regarding the creation and use of AI technology (regional/national)

Part of the GEIGER Final Event.

Webinar: Breaking the glass ceiling: Women in business, innovation and investments (EN)

Speakers:

• Ms. Florina Dumitrache, Co-founder CyberEDU.ro
• Ms. Justina Bieliauskaite, Project Director, European Digital SME Alliance
• Ms. Cristiana Bogateanu, Business Analyst in Life Sciences & Healthcare, Nagarro
• Ms. Grace Labong Achire, Vice Chairperson, Alliance for Trade in Information Technology Services
• Ms. Mihaela Tudor, Country Leader European Women’s Association / Founder Tudor Communications
• Ms. Claudia Victoria Nicolae, General Manager Agerpres
• Ms. Karina Mereuta, Co-Founder I Outreach & Partnerships, Fructify Network

Moderator:
Ms. Monica Moldovan, Co-founder & Community Lead Fructify Network

One of our focus areas for this year’s edition is promoting women in tech, more specifically women in business, innovation and investments.

The panel reunites delegates from different parts of the world active in the 3 mentioned areas and set the spotlight on how women in tech are perceived in different geographical areas of the world and what are the challenges they face

GEIGER Connect: How can small businesses tackle cybersecurity with ease? (EN)

Part of the GEIGER Final Event

12:00-13:00 CEST
13:00-14:00 EEST
Meet us at Grand Hotel Italia

12:30 – 14:30 CEST
13:30 – 15:30 EEST
Meet us at Grand Hotel Italia

14:50-17:00 CEST
15:50-18:00 EEST
Meet us at Grand Hotel Italia

Panel: Future Communities – Smart City, the dream come true (EN)

Speakers: 

• Mr. Suresh Agarwal, Honorary Secretary Claud &Data Chapter, SgTech Singapore
• Mr Raj Indukuri, Head of RoCham ICT Committee
• Mr. Andrew Stein, Computerization Director, Newport News City Hall
• Mr. Derek Loftis, PhD Researcher, VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE
• Mr. Antonio Camara, Professor, Nova University Lisbon
• Ms. Paulina Mitrea, Coordinator Brained City Working Group, Cluj IT Cluster
• Mr. George Teo Voicescu, Training Specialist. Doctoral Student, Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid, and Global Health
• Ms. Adela Golea, Head of Emergency Medicine Discipline, UMF Iuliu Hatieganu
• Mr. Peter Birtha, Sales Manager of Eastern Europe, Hytera Communication Europe

Moderator:

Mr. Andrei Nistor, Co-Owner, Digitalio

Panel: Future Communities – Boots on the ground. Practical perspectives of developing smart cities in Romania (RO)

Speakers: 

• Mr. Stelian Brad, President Cluj IT Cluster
• Ms. Dalila Ciuclan, International innovation projects coordinator at Cluj Napoca Municipality
• Mr. Florin Nicolae Gaurean, City Manager, Bistrita Municipality City Hall
• Mr. Liviu Stanciu, Expert Smart City, Alba Iulia Municipality City Hall 
• Mr. Ovidiu Ciucur, TIC Director, Cugir City Hall 
• Mr. Erik Barna, Founder and Board Member, Life is Hard
• Mr. Daniel Homorodean, CEO, Arxia 

Moderator: 

Mr. Gabriel Zamfir, Co-Owner, Digitalio

It is about an ideal of advanced and fully harmonious life of our human communities, born and consolidated in accordance with the extraordinary dynamics that top technologies know at present.
What is the profile of the ideal smart city?

Cities and communities are constantly changing ecosystems.

Strategic development towards smarter cities and happier human communities is heavily dependent on addressing particular challenges specific to local conditions. This is the point where the ideal smart city experts take their boots to the ground and discover the more practical perspectives.

Through this moderated discussion we will be exploring both the challenges and the solutions which have been implemented in smart city projects in Romania.

In this endeavor panelists will take a deep dive in topics such as:
– How deep has the smart city concept been taken in Romania?
– Challenges and solutions in collaborating with public administration
– How has the private sector addressed the needs of local administrations
– Lessons learned and perspectives for the next decade on smart city development

High-level discussion: The power of innovation (EN)

Speaker:

• Ms. Daniela Rus, Director of MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

Moderators:

• Mr. Andrei Kelemen, CEO,Cluj IT Cluster 
• Mr. Ionel Lespuc, TVR Cluj

Panel: Digital Romania (RO)
How do we make digitization a public service?

Speakers:

• Mr. Emil Boc, Mayor, Cluj-Napoca Municipality Hall 
• Ms. Anca Buzoianu Phd, Rector, „Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca
• Ms. Daniela Popescu, Vice-Rector, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca 
• Mr. Sabin Sarmas, President of ITC Committee of Deputy Chamber in Romania
• Mr. Andrei Kelemen, Executive Director, Cluj IT Cluster

Moderator:
Mr. Sabin Gherman, Journalist

Moderated discussion about the future of the IT industry at regional and national level with representatives from the European Commission, central public administration and local public administration.

The purpose of the panel is to highlight the trends manifested in the IT area in the last period as well as the development prospects of the industry related to the growth plans and the existing European and national policies.

Panel: Innovation from idea to final product (RO)

Speakers:

• Ms. Anamaria Androne, Lead UI/UX, Code Crafters, Banca Transilvania
• Mr. Égly János, Executive Director, Accenture
• Mr. Ionut Muntean, Senior Manager, Innovation and University Relations, Bosch
• Mr. Cristian Pavel, CEO, Alfa Software

Moderator:
Mr. Andrei Nistor, Co-Owner, Digitalio

Panel: Romania and the talents it is losing (RO)
How do we support innovation and entrepreneurship among new generations?

Speakers:

• Ms. Bianca Bălan, Chief Executive Officer, ADAPT 
• Mr. Andrei Ababei, Co-Founder, SchoolModeOn
• Ms. Diana Andritchi, Co-Founder Synaptiq
• Mr. Sorin Niţă, Assistant Professor Ph.D, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies 
• Mr. Corneliu Birtok-Baneasa, Eng. PhD, Faculty of Engineering Hunedoare, Politechnica University of Timisoara 
• Mr. Adrian Florea, Professor, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu

Moderator:
Mr. Gabriel Zamfir, Co-owner, Digitalio

As more and more young talents choose to explore academic and professional development opportunities abroad, we find ourselves in a position where Romania needs to act towards stopping the brain drain phenomenon.

The panel sets out to bring in the spotlight the good, the bad and the silver lining:
•What is going right and the reasons why young entrepreneurs and innovators choose to develop their innovations in Romania
•What can be improved in how young talents are supported and how can we use innovation as a stimulant for entrepreneurial opportunities?

19:30-22:30 CEST
20:30-23:30 EEST

Networking gathering (invitation based-only)

09:00-11:00 CEST

10:00-12:00 EEST

Online, via StreamEvent

Webinar: Art and culture through Tech (RO)

Speakers:

• Mr. Daniel Popescu, Artistic Director, LightsOn Romania
• Mr. Cristian Hordila, Festival Manager, Transilvania International Film Festival
• Mr. Adrian Vele, Alumn Culturepreneurs, CEO & Fashion Designer at Velements
• Horea Avram, Theatre and Film Department, Universitatea Babes-Bolyai
• Cristina Pop-Tiron, Coordonator al programului New Media Art al Electric Castle

Moderator:

Ms. Mara Ratiu, Vice Rector, Art and Design University in Cluj-Napoca

07:00-09:00 PDT
16:00-18:00 CEST
17:00-19:00 EEST

Online, prior registration needed

Masterclass: Designing the film sector through innovation (RO)

Speaker:

• Mr. Vlad Bina, Supervising Art Director Feature Films, A.D.G | V.E.S.

Moderator: 

Mr. Marius Cosmeanu, Founder, Savantgarde

 A short overview of digital production techniques used in my studio film projects from 2001 until now.

Twenty years ago, a discussion was taunting the convergence of computer games and film.
The conclusions were vague, primarily concerning the game’s narrative structures and camera techniques.

While this happened to some extent, what surprised many was the recent use of game engines in production and principal photography. New workflows developed, embracing virtual camera systems, which combine a physical camera or monitor with a virtual environment by aligning the physical space to the virtual one either at 1 to 1 scale or at a custom scale. This allows filmmakers to view computer-generated environments, character performances, and scenes as if they are doing a live-action shoot.

08:00 CEST-09:00 EEST
Romanian Diplomatic Institute, (invitation based-only)

Workshop: The Role of Romania in the Digital for Development Policies of the European Union (RO)

The workshop presents in detail the Digital for Development policy, the priorities of the European Commission, the institutional system and partners, as well as the implementation tools.

The workshop aims to provide the participants with the relevant information to support the definition of Romania’s role in the context of the Digital for Development policy and the opportunities that arise for the digital ecosystem in our country.

Webinar: Cross-sectoral and transdisciplinary collaborations for innovation: the power of SMEs (EN)

Speakers:

• Ms. Veronica Vaida, Architect, Asociatia Monumentum Romania [project 5D-ARCH-AID]
• Ms. Alexis Smith, Founder, IMG UK [project BIOG]
• Mr. Paul Stevens, CEO, Voltitude Ltd UK [project TMOS]
• Mr. Petros Masouridis, Business Development Manager, WALTR France [project FLYCAIR]

Moderator:

Ms. Gisela Sanchez – Project Manager at Pôle de Compétitivité Mondial Finance Innovation