Techsylvania, one of Eastern Europe’s leading tech and business conferences, announces the launch of its 2026 edition. The event will take place on June 24–25, 2026, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, bringing together thousands of innovators, entrepreneurs, executives, and technology enthusiasts from around the world.

With every edition, Techsylvania strengthens its position as a catalyst for innovation and a powerful platform where global leaders share groundbreaking ideas, emerging startups gain visibility, and meaningful business relationships begin. The 2026 edition promises an elevated experience focused on the future of technology, product building, artificial intelligence, business growth, and the global innovation landscape.

What Awaits You at Techsylvania 2026

Attendees can expect the signature Techsylvania experience:

Visionary Perspectives: Global industry leaders will take the stage to explore the trends shaping the next decade—from AI and emerging technologies to the intersection of business, innovation, and society.

Hands-on Workshops: Expert-led practical sessions designed to help professionals sharpen their skills in areas such as engineering, AI, product strategy, leadership, and data.

Startup Alley: Startup-focused events, exclusive pitching opportunities, and curated interactions with international investors and mentors.

Premium Networking: Curated spaces including the B2B Matchmaking Area, Executive Lounge, and invite-only gatherings that foster strategic connections between leaders, founders, and top-level professionals.

Interactive Experiences: Technology showcases and installations highlighting cutting-edge products, tools, and emerging technologies.

First Confirmed Speakers Announced

Techsylvania 2026 has already confirmed its first international speakers, bringing together founders, investors, and operators shaping the future of technology and business.

Among them are Andrei Șerban, Founder & CEO of Console, an AI-native platform backed by Thrive Capital and DST Global; Sam Lipoff, Partner at Liminal, the venture studio and fund founded by Temasek Holdings; and Sheel Mohnot, Co-Founder & General Partner at Better Tomorrow Ventures, a leading seed-stage fintech fund.

These early confirmations set the tone for a high-impact lineup focused on applied technology, AI, and real-world business insights.

Strategic Partnership Announcement

Techsylvania 2026 is proud to welcome Super Technologies as the Strategic Partner for this year’s edition.

As a fast-growing company in the global technology and entertainment space, Super Technologies shares Techsylvania’s vision of driving progress through technology, entrepreneurship, and bold thinking. This partnership further strengthens the event’s mission to create meaningful connections between global leaders, innovative companies, and the next generation of community builders.

A New Chapter for Eastern Europe’s Innovation Landscape

Techsylvania 2026 marks an important moment in positioning Eastern Europe as a rising force in global technology and business. The event continues to attract a diverse audience of engineers, founders, executives, investors, corporate innovators, and community builders from more than 30 countries.

Additional speakers, partners, and special initiatives for the 2026 edition will be announced in the coming weeks.

More information and updates on techsylvania.com.

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With over 50 teams, 40 mentors, and 30 real-world challenges, this year’s Cluj Hackathon, held from May 24–26 2025, pushed boundaries in agentic AI — and made space for some of the brightest young minds in Romania and beyond to shine. The three-day innovation marathon, hosted by Bosch Engineering Center Cluj, drew not only hackers and developers but also investors, accelerators, and founders curious about the next wave of AI-native startups.

Organized by Adrian Vlasiu, the hackathon aimed to harness the power of artificial intelligence to address real-world societal issues. Participants were encouraged to develop AI-driven solutions across various domains, including education, healthcare, and emergency response. The event’s mission was clear: to create impactful technologies that serve the community.

Now in its third edition, Cluj Hackathon has established itself as a consecrated name in the global hackathon scene, recently recognized by the Major League Hacking as one of the top 100 hackathons in the world.

“That kind of recognition validates the quality of our teams, our mentors, and the energy we’ve been building here in Cluj,” said Adrian Vlasiu, the event’s founder and organizer.

The winners? Three radically different teams united by one trait: they built useful, human-centered products with global potential.

First Prize: AI Interior Design Assistant That Understands Your Style

Filip Csibi, a computer science student at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, teamed up with Mark Renner, a theology high school student passionate about computer science and one of the youngest participants of the hackathon, to win first place with a product that turned heads.

Their AI-powered interior design app that helps users visualize room layouts and purchase suggested furniture in a few clicks. Using OpenAI APIs and DALL·E 3, the app generates personalized room visuals and learns user preferences over time. Ideal for people who move often or want quick, affordable design help, the app could soon evolve into a 3D and VR-based design platform.

Despite being just a duo, the team delivered a highly-polished prototype and impressed judges with both technical execution and vision. Filip said the experience reinforced the importance of teamwork — and they are already planning to expand the team for next year’s edition.

Second Prize: A Chatbot to Fix University Bureaucracy

Few things frustrate students more than getting information from university secretariats. Matei Botezat, Bogdan Buruian, Luca Balasoiu and Bogdan Biris, all four computer science students from Babeș-Bolyai University, created a smart fix: a university helper chatbot powered by Google Dialogflow and Cloud Functions.

Their idea? Free up secretaries’ time and reduce student stress by automating answers about scholarships, Erasmus programs, student IDs, and more. Mentorship from experts like Maria and Zoli (Fetch.ai) helped them refine the app’s business potential and prepare it for rollout.

The next step: test a prototype at their own university and explore expanding across campuses via European grants or university consortia. It’s a hyper-local solution with cross-border relevance — and a practical example of AI as administrative glue.

Third Prize: Angel AI — A Calm Voice in an Emergency

From travel panic to cultural misunderstandings, the Angel AI team tackled a universal pain point: what happens when travelers face danger in unfamiliar places? Their AI-powered assistant app aims to provide immediate, culturally aware support in high-stress situations — from medical emergencies to legal trouble or natural disasters.

Originally pitched as a dynamic travel planner, the idea pivoted mid-hackathon to focus on preventive alerts, real-time assistance, and actionable advice in moments of crisis. The team — Cristiana Constantin, Marius Manea and Bogdan Caraeane, all three students at  the University of Bucharest — received key mentorship on shaping their go-to-market strategy and decided to explore white-label partnerships with insurers, travel platforms, or even competitors.

With a rebrand in the works and small features being rolled out to collect traction and data, Angel AI is aiming to become a digital safety net for travelers worldwide.

Mentors: Cluj’s Secret Weapon

Mentors played a critical role in guiding teams toward clarity and viability. One of them, Mo Zidan, highlighted just how far the Cluj tech scene has come, not trying to replicate Silicon Valley, but growing with its own distinct identity.

He was also struck by the confidence and global mindset of young Romanian talent — like the 14-year-old who pitched fluently to a panel of international judges. For Moe, participating as a mentor was a way to “give back” and help build bridges between Cluj and other tech hubs in Eastern Europe and Asia.

“It’s not about copying Berlin or San Francisco. Cluj should link with other rising hubs — places like Prague, Budapest, Jakarta, Seoul. We have the mindset now. And the talent.”

One major evolution at this year’s event? Teams didn’t just use AI as a gimmick — they built AI agents that could act: book transport, send documents, or adapt in real time to changing user needs. Mo described this as “the biggest leap forward” he’s seen at any hackathon so far.

“This year’s AI agents weren’t just reactive chatbots,” said Mo Zidan, one of the lead mentors. “They were capable of taking action — booking taxis during emergencies or rerouting flights. That’s a massive shift.”

AI, Creativity, and the Future: A Bosch Perspective

As the host of the Cluj Hackathon 2025, Bosch Engineering Center Cluj provided not just the venue, but a fertile ground for forward-looking innovation. For Maria Barbatei, Group Leader of VR & AR Activities at Bosch, what stood out most was the breadth and relevance of the solutions.

“First of all, in this edition, the variety of solutions was extremely wide,” Maria noted. “The participants tackled problems from several industries, and especially the winners provided a solution which is relevant to all of us as it influences our daily lives and helps us to design our work environment at the office or at home as it fits us best.”

Beyond the creativity and boldness of the teams, Maria emphasized Bosch’s ongoing investment in AI-driven development and a data-first culture:

“I believe that the development of AI in the next five years will be fast-paced, and this is the reason why at Bosch we focus on data-driven development, and aim to foster a data-first culture while staying ahead with the AI advancements. We do this with the projects and activities in the data-development area as well as with building communities to expand these competencies in the organization with a rich mix of learning formats and collaborative activities.”

Bosch’s innovation programs don’t just support external events like the hackathon; they’re also fueling internal breakthroughs, with multiple invention reports being generated every year. It’s a model of how corporate R&D and grassroots innovation can work hand-in-hand — and how Cluj’s tech ecosystem is positioning itself for long-term, AI-powered growth.

What’s Next for Cluj Hackathon?

The 2025 edition marked a turning point — with agentic AI becoming not just a buzzword but a tool for building real products with real users. The energy was palpable. So was the ambition.

As the Cluj tech ecosystem continues to mature, the hackathon proves it’s not just a launchpad for code, but a catalyst for startups, mentorship, and international partnerships.

Organizer Adrian Vlasiu sees even bigger things on the horizon: an expansion across Romania and Europe, the launch of a Senior Hackathon for professionals aged 30+, and the formation of a European Hackathon League to foster a cross-border community of builders.

“We’re creating a platform where ideas meet capital, mentorship meets execution, and regional talent meets global relevance”, Adrian said.

One thing’s certain: the future of AI isn’t being built in Silicon Valley alone — it’s also coming from a theology high school student in Cluj, a chatbot for university offices, and a virtual guardian angel for tourists.

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On February 27, 2025, the LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator Demo Day took place at Hub UTCN in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, bringing together some of the most promising health tech startups. The program’s finalists pitched their innovative solutions in nutrition, psychiatry, surgery, telemedicine, and healthcare management before a jury of investors, doctors, and business experts. The event also featured a panel discussion on the collaboration between healthcare professionals and startups, as well as a networking session.

After five intense months of work, including seven workshops, 29 experts, and over 70 hours of mentorship and consultancy, the six most promising health & life sciences startups reached the grand finale of the second edition of LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator.

At the end of the Demo Day evening, Argus AI won the Best Startup, Jury’s Choice, while Neurocare was awarded the Best Startup, Public’s Choice, recognizing their outstanding contributions to health innovation.

Argus AI: Augmented Reality to Support Neurosurgeons

One of the standout startups at Demo Day was Argus AI, a company leveraging augmented reality to assist neurosurgeons in reducing surgical errors, operation times, anesthesia exposure, and post-operative complications. Their solution integrates MRI/CT scans into VR headsets, allowing surgeons to visualize critical structures such as tumors and blood vessels, helping them better prepare for complex interventions.

Vladimir Verbulski, the founder of Argus AI, highlighted the immense value of the LevelUP Accelerator in shaping their journey. “The industry-specific mentorship and tailored sessions were exactly what we needed. The program helped us refine our approach and move towards real-world application,” he shared.

Currently, Argus AI has developed a minimum viable product (MVP) and is starting trials in collaboration with clinics and hospitals to gather feedback and refine their technology. They are also seeking €1.9 million in investment to sustain operations for the next two and a half years. “This funding will allow us to bring the product to market, validate its impact in real-world settings, and ultimately improve neurosurgical procedures,” Vladimir Verbulski explained.

Argus AI’s innovation and potential were recognized at the event, earning them the Best Startup, Jury’s Choice award.

Neurocare: Enhancing Dementia Care with Smart Wearables

Another promising startup at Demo Day, Neurocare, is revolutionizing dementia care through smart wearables and a connected platform. Their solution monitors vitals, activity, sleep patterns, and fall risks, ensuring greater safety for patients. Caregivers benefit from real-time insights and AI-powered support, while healthcare professionals gain access to data-driven patient management tools, leading to improved care coordination.

Founder Florin Leu, along with Vladimir Plotean, emphasized how the LevelUP Accelerator helped refine their strategy and accelerate growth. “The experience has been invaluable—we’re now better prepared to navigate the market and avoid past mistakes,” they shared.

The team is currently focused on finalizing their MVP by the end of Q2 and preparing for clinical trials. Their goal is to launch first in Romania, then expand across the EU. To make this happen, they are seeking a €500,000 pre-seed investment and strategic partnerships with hospitals and healthcare organizations. “We need strong endorsements to build trust and scale our solution effectively,” Florin Leu explained.

Neurocare’s efforts resonated strongly with the audience, earning them the Best Startup, Public’s Choice at Demo Day.

Other Startups That Pitched at Demo Day

Besides Argus AI and Neurocare, four other promising startups showcased their solutions at LevelUP Demo Day:

• Dr-Online – A telemedicine app that facilitates easy access to quality medical services. Through partnerships with doctors, clinics, and service providers, their platform offers virtual consultations, integrates medical devices, and enables efficient electronic medical record (EMR) management.
• Forkpie Kids – An AI-powered app that helps parents monitor their children’s nutrition. Users take a photo of their meals, and the app analyzes nutritional values while providing personalized recommendations based on Healthy Eating Plate principles. Parents receive daily and weekly reports to support healthier eating habits for their children.
• MaeveAI – An AI-powered virtual assistant designed to simplify the workload of healthcare professionals. MaeveAI automates tasks such as patient communication, appointment scheduling, and inventory management, allowing doctors to focus more on patient care.
• Smart Bites – A comprehensive nutrition solution, offering personalized meal plans, expert consultation, quick online grocery shopping, and ingredient delivery. Smart Bites simplifies the journey toward healthy eating for the entire family.

LevelUP’s Vision: Personalizing the Startup Journey

Reflecting on this edition of LevelUP, Anca Roman, Head of the Accelerator, highlighted the impressive progress made by the participating startups. “Innovation in healthcare is often a slow process, but with the right mentorship, expertise, and partnerships, we’ve seen remarkable growth,” she noted.

Looking ahead, the accelerator plans to further personalize the journey for each startup and explore a challenge-driven approach, potentially focusing on areas like oncology or green health tech. Another key priority is fostering long-term engagement through community events, bringing together alumni and experts to discuss funding opportunities and sustain momentum.

“We want to keep supporting startups even after the program ends, ensuring they have the resources and connections to scale,” Roman emphasized.

LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator

Launched in March 2023 by INNO, the North-West of Romania Regional Development Agency’s department responsible for regional innovation and attracting investors, LevelUP is the first accelerator in Romania exclusively dedicated to startups in the fields of health and life sciences. The program has been developed with assistance from EIT Health as part of their DRIVE program, further strengthening its commitment to fostering cutting-edge healthcare solutions.

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Between November 2024 and February 2025, the Cluj IT Association, in partnership with Smart Innovation Norway, carried out the project “AI-Driven Green Digital Transformation in Public Administration”.

The project pursued the development of an approach model for evaluating the degree of digitization and the level of preparation of the town halls for the adoption of modern digital tools, including artificial intelligence, taking into account at the same time the need to ensure the lowest possible level of negative impact on the environment. The mayors of Romania and Norway were primarily targeted, and the project could later be expanded to include local administrations from other countries.

Within the project, a web platform was implemented that allows evaluation processes to be carried out by going through a form in multiple steps, answering multiple-choice questions.

The set of 180 questions, grouped into 11 categories, was made by the implementation team through a process of research and analysis, aiming at the full coverage of all activities carried out within a local administration organization and specific aspects related to sustainability and reducing the negative impact on the environment.

Artificial intelligence algorithms were used to train the interpreter of the evaluation responses so that he could create a comprehensive diagnosis of the current state regarding digitization, preparation for the adoption of AI tools and ensuring sustainability, and to be able to generate actionable, personalized recommendations in this regard. For the interpretation and formulation of the results, a large language model (LLM) from the Llama family was integrated. From the beginning, the system is available in three languages, Romanian, Norwegian and English, making automatic translations through Deepl integration to ensure efficient collaboration between administration representatives and consultants from both participating countries.

The system was piloted and validated through training and work sessions with municipalities from Romania and Norway, including on the Romanian side the municipality of Bistrita, the municipality of Turda, and the city of Cugir, and on the Norwegian side the municipalities of Kongsvinger, Kristiansund, and Bamble.

The participating municipalities appreciated the relevance of the project and the result of the implementation, showing interest in using it further and recommending it to other institutions.

Following the implementation of this pilot project, the partners, the Cluj IT Association and Smart Innovation Norway intend to continue developing the system and implementing it further both in their countries, Romania and Norway, as well as in other countries.

The project is supported by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA grants Romania 2014-2021, in the frame of the “SME Growth Programme Romania”.

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In the winter of 1997, an 18-year-old Kai Brand Jacobsen set foot in Cluj-Napoca for the first time. What was meant to be a brief visit to meet Denisa — whom he had met at an international summer school in Norway — turned into the beginning of a lifelong connection to the city and Romania. Cluj, as Jacobsen fondly recalls, was different then: fewer parks, fewer restaurants, and a quieter charm. Yet, what captivated him was the vibrant energy of its people, their hospitality, and a palpable passion for life that made him fall in love with the city.

Over the next 25 years, Jacobsen not only made Cluj his home but also transformed it into a hub for global peacebuilding through his work with the Romanian Peace Institute (PATRIR). The organization, founded in Transylvania, has grown into a globally recognized institution addressing conflicts, promoting education, and fighting violence. Jacobsen’s contributions have not only impacted communities worldwide but have also helped Cluj emerge as a center for education, innovation, and peace.

While PATRIR is not a startup in the traditional sense, its story mirrors the entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of our Startups&TheCity project. Born in Cluj-Napoca, this NGO has leveraged innovation, collaboration, and a bold vision to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from conflict resolution to education reform. 

Much like a successful startup, PATRIR has scaled its impact globally, demonstrating how cities like Cluj can serve as launchpads for initiatives that change the world. Over a coffee, I sat down with Kai Brand Jacobsen to explore the story of PATRIR and his journey as its founder, as he embarks on a new role outside Cluj and PATRIR.

PATRIR: A Global Force for Change

For over two decades, Jacobsen dedicated himself to PATRIR, an organization deeply rooted in the belief that peace begins at the community level. Under his leadership, PATRIR has worked tirelessly to address issues such as bullying in schools, gender-based violence, and domestic abuse, all while promoting healthy communication and relationships. Through workshops and educational campaigns, the institute has reached thousands of students and educators across Romania, empowering them with the tools to create safe, inclusive environments.

The organization’s influence, however, extends far beyond Romania. PATRIR has played pivotal roles in mediating global conflicts, including facilitating peace talks in Nepal, Northern Ireland, and other war-torn regions. Its innovative approaches to addressing the root causes of violence have earned it invitations from the United Nations and governments worldwide. The institute’s expertise in ceasefires, peace agreements, and community rebuilding has saved lives and restored hope in regions devastated by war.

The Synergy Between Cluj and PATRIR

Jacobsen attributes much of PATRIR’s success to the mutual relationship between the institute and Cluj. The city, with its rich cultural and intellectual life, has provided a fertile ground for PATRIR’s educational initiatives and campaigns. Collaborating with local authorities, civic organizations, and educators, PATRIR has not only contributed to Cluj’s development but also inspired its citizens to embrace their role in building a more peaceful society.

“Cluj has grown alongside PATRIR,” Jacobsen reflects. “The people here—teachers, artists, entrepreneurs—are the heart of the city, and their energy inspires everything we do.”

A Call to Action: Supporting PATRIR’s Mission

PATRIR’s work is more urgent than ever, as the world faces increasing violence and instability. Jacobsen highlights the institute’s current campaign to expand its impact locally and globally, particularly in education and peacebuilding. “We’re working on future education in Romania to achieve deep, systemic change,” he explains. This initiative involves creating safe schools, overcoming bullying, and equipping children with practical skills such as effective communication, problem-solving, and collaboration—tools essential for thriving in today’s world and building a better future.

Equally vital is PATRIR’s continued fight against gender-based violence, ensuring that every individual, whether in Romania or beyond, has the opportunity to grow up in safety and dignity. On the global stage, PATRIR is actively supporting communities ravaged by war, including those in Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon. Through interventions to prevent conflicts, efforts to assist survivors, and programs to rebuild lives after violence, PATRIR stands as a beacon of hope. “We’re asking people to help us make a difference in this critical moment,” Jacobsen urges, emphasizing that even in the midst of the worst violence, collective action can pave the way for peace.

A Personal and Professional Farewell

This year marks a significant transition for Jacobsen as he embarks on a new role outside Cluj, one that allows him to continue his global peacebuilding efforts. Despite the move, his connection to Cluj remains steadfast. “Cluj will always be home,” he says. “If I could choose, I would stay here every day. But wherever I go, this city will be a part of me.”

Jacobsen envisions a bright future for Cluj, confident that the city’s dynamism and creativity will continue to flourish. For him, Cluj is just at the beginning of its next chapter, one that will see it rise as a leader in innovation, education, and community building.

To support PATRIR’s vital work and contribute to making a difference, visit patrir.ro/donate.

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Between November 2024 and February 2025, the Cluj IT Association will run in partnership with Smart Innovation Norway the project “AI-Driven Green Digital Transformation in Public Administration.”

The project will follow the development of an approach model for evaluating the degree of digitalization and the level of preparation of the town halls for the adoption of modern digital tools, including artificial intelligence, taking into account at the same time the need to ensure the lowest possible level of negative impact on the environment. 

The municipalities of Romania and Norway are primarily targeted, and the project may later be expanded to include local administrations from other countries.

The project aims to implement an application accessible via the Internet, through which to collect information from the municipalities and to carry out evaluations based on artificial intelligence algorithms, a knowledge base explicitly developed for this project and a large language model (LLM) which is to be chosen in such a way as to confer the highest possible accuracy of the evaluation and recommendations, as well as the least possible dependence on commercial licenses of the technical instruments.

The project is supported by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA grants Romania 2014-2021, in the frame of the “SME Growth Programme Romania”.

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Founded this fall in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Boon is a pioneering peer-to-peer marketplace that goes beyond conventional secondhand selling by integrating social impact into every transaction. 

Created by entrepreneur Stefan Szakal, Boon enables employees within companies to buy and sell secondhand goods, with all proceeds directed to a charity of the seller’s choosing. This unique approach combines commerce, charity, and sustainability, aiming to foster community trust and drive positive social change within corporate environments.

A Marketplace Built on Trust

Boon was designed to operate exclusively within companies, allowing only colleagues to engage in transactions. This trust-based model addresses common challenges in peer-to-peer marketplaces, such as issues with reliability and security, while strengthening workplace community bonds. Inspired by Szakal’s experience attempting to donate an old computer to an animal shelter, Boon evolved from a charity-focused concept to a marketplace built on workplace trust, where companies act as intermediaries to guarantee secure and transparent exchanges.

Unique Use Cases and Versatility

Boon’s applications go beyond simple product exchanges. Sellers can offer unique experiences—like cooking classes or tech tutorials—using the proceeds to support local charities. In one instance, a company’s CEO auctioned a barbecue invite, with all funds going directly to charity. This flexibility in offerings showcases Boon’s potential to cultivate both shared experiences and charitable impact, helping to strengthen workplace connections and inspire collaborative generosity.

Social Impact at Its Core

With Boon, every transaction reinforces a commitment to social responsibility. Szakal emphasizes that the platform empowers users to select from a list of verified local charities, ensuring that donations are meaningful and impactful. By allowing employees to support causes close to their hearts, Boon fosters a sense of purpose and engagement that resonates with the younger workforce. Furthermore, Boon’s built-in AI tool measures the environmental benefits of each purchase, making the environmental impact of secondhand buying visible and accessible for users.

Aligning with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Human Resources (HR)

Boon is a powerful ally for corporate CSR and HR initiatives, helping companies easily digitize and expand their charity efforts. The platform allows employees the freedom to support causes that matter to them, and Boon’s charity verification process assures companies that they’re contributing to reputable organizations. This alignment with CSR policies also enhances employee engagement and satisfaction, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z, who are more likely to value companies with strong social responsibility practices.

Boon’s Business Model and Future Plans

Unlike typical marketplace models, Boon’s business model aligns directly with its social impact mission. The platform operates without charging companies or users, focusing instead on the success of the charities it supports. By acting as a “fundraising department” for these organizations, Boon creates value without imposing fees or transaction costs on companies or individuals.

Currently in its early stages, Boon launched to the public in September with initial adopters like Rebel Dot, a forward-thinking company that shares Boon’s commitment to social impact. Looking ahead, Stefan Szakal has ambitious plans to expand to Bucharest by November, with the possibility of entering an international market by the end of the year. This growth plan illustrates Boon’s scalable potential, driven by a focus on impactful, community-centered commerce.

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On Thursday, 19 September 2024, Morning Health Talks #2 was organized by FreshBlood HealthTech, the local representative of EIT Health in Romania, an event that brought together healthcare innovators, entrepreneurs, and experts in a hybrid format in Cluj-Napoca and online. The event focused on real-world case studies, best practices, and lessons learned in healthcare innovation. 

The EIT Health Morning Health Talks is an event series organized by the EIT Health Hubs in the RIS countries, running for 4 years now. The aim is to strengthen relationships between the local, regional, and national stakeholders of the healthcare innovation ecosystems, through honest, professional discussions. 

The theme of this year’s event in Cluj-Napoca, Open Innovation in Healthcare, provided a platform to explore the latest trends and challenges in this dynamic field. Key international and local voices came together to discuss the role of open innovation in improving healthcare outcomes, especially in startup environments.

The event highlighted key strategies and challenges in leveraging external resources to foster innovation in the healthcare sector. 

Key Speakers and Highlights

One of the main speakers was Maria Sanchis Amat, PhD – Senior Open Innovation & Innovative Procurement Manage at EIT Health Germany. An organization renowned for its work in healthcare innovation, EIT Health has established itself as a leader in fostering open innovation across Europe, and Maria’s presentation emphasized the importance of adapting successful European programs to local contexts, particularly in Romania. The LevelUP startup accelerator, which was highlighted at the event, serves as a model for such adaptation.

To further contextualize open innovation within the healthcare sector, the event brought together both international and Romanian speakers. 

For instance, Jorge Pimenta – Innovation Director at Space Solutions Portugal presented tangible examples of local initiatives that bridge the gap between global innovation and local implementation, while Sándor Kovács – Health Economist, Division of Pharmacoeconomics at Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs & Senior Researcher at Syreon Research Institute discussed critical aspects of health economics and outcomes research (eHTA), often overlooked by startups in the tech and healthcare space.

Anca Roman – Head of the INNO – Rethinking Business Networks at North West Regional Development Agency, representing LevelUP, the first Health & Life Sciences startup accelerator in Romania, provided valuable insights into Romania’s evolving healthcare ecosystem. 

Additionally, the presence of two National Contact Points (NCPs), Adina Stanculea – NCP EIT Romania & Elena Ungureanu – NCP EIC & EIE Romania, was crucial in highlighting the complexities involved in translating EU funding opportunities into actionable local projects. These NCPs work to localize EU programs like EIT, EIC, and EIE, ensuring that Romanian entities can successfully navigate the application processes.

Finally, the event featured an important discussion with Serban Udrea from Medisprof Cancer Center, a business leader in healthcare, who shared his experience working within the open innovation framework. As a private entity balancing profitability with technological advancement, Serban’s insights into the challenges of integrating startups into healthcare were invaluable.

Serban highlighted the barriers startups face in terms of healthcare regulations and business acumen, and how open innovation can help overcome these obstacles to create a more collaborative and innovative ecosystem.

Lessons Learned from the LevelUP Accelerator

The key takeaway from the LevelUP project, as part of the EIT Health Drive Program, was the importance of community building in creating value within a specific domain.

Presenting the program, which last year involved more than 25 diverse partners including universities, startup associations, media, and medical institutions, Anca ROMAN highlighted that networking and exposure to new stakeholders are as crucial as funding for startups. 

The initial community-focused approach, which connected startups with various entities, proved to be more beneficial than immediate financial support, as it helped startups mature their ideas and attract funding over time.

Best Practices in Collaborating with Medical Startups

The key best practices and lessons learned from collaborating with medical startups, as discussed with Serban Udrea, include understanding the root problem by engaging directly with end-users, personalizing solutions to fit specific medical practices, and presenting clear clinical advantages to gain adoption. 

Cost-effectiveness should be quantified in terms of clinical outcomes and productivity. Conducting research or clinical studies is essential to provide credible evidence of clinical benefits, which is crucial for gaining trust and acceptance in the medical field.

Lessons Learned from Founding a Medical Startup

In the conversation, two of the co-founders of Hello Carl, Vlad Plotean and Florin Leu, shared lessons learned and best practices for founding a medical startup. They emphasized that the initial idea often changes due to market feedback, advocating for continuous market engagement through questionnaires, MVPs, pilot programs, and focus groups.

Networking and partnerships with institutions are crucial, especially in the health industry, where relationships take time to develop. 

They also stressed the importance of leveraging existing solutions to expedite development and seeking advice from specialists, particularly in sensitive health tech areas like their dementia startup. 

Lastly, they highlighted the need to consider cultural and regional differences when planning for a global market.

Best Practices in Tech Transfer and Health Sector Collaboration

Kinga Hening, Tech Transfer Officer at Babes-Bolyai University’s TechTransfer Center, emphasized the importance of collaboration in the health sector, and particularly in Romania.

Kinga highlighted the university’s efforts in integrating research with practical applications, fostering partnerships with various entities like the Romanian Academy, EIT Health, FreshBlood, and startups. The goal is to enhance safety, health and community well-being through technology transfer. 

Kinga underscored the tech transfer office’s role as a facilitator, bridging gaps between research, investors, companies, and hospitals to create beneficial outcomes for the community.

Conclusions

The event highlighted the critical role of open innovation in transforming the healthcare landscape, particularly through collaboration and the sharing of best practices across borders.

With contributions from both international and Romanian experts, the event underscored the importance of building strong communities that bring together diverse stakeholders—universities, startups, medical institutions, and more. This approach, as demonstrated by the LevelUP Accelerator, was shown to be more effective than immediate financial support, helping startups to mature their ideas and create long-term value.

Key lessons from the discussions highlighted that networking, co-creation, and collaboration with a wide range of partners are indispensable for the success of healthcare startups.

Exposure to diverse stakeholders not only enhances innovation but also helps startups navigate the complexities of the healthcare sector, including regulatory barriers and the need for credible clinical evidence.

Ultimately, the event showcased the power of open innovation in overcoming traditional barriers in the healthcare sector, creating a collaborative ecosystem that benefits both startups and the broader medical community.

By fostering connections, building partnerships, and integrating external resources, these initiatives are helping to drive healthcare innovation forward, both in Romania and across Europe.

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On September 18th 2023, the inaugural edition of the LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator program in Cluj-Napoca culminated in an impressive Demo Day, marking the successful conclusion of a pioneering initiative for health and life sciences startups in Romania. 

Over a span of six intensive months, 50 industry experts actively engaged in mentoring, contributing over 500 hours of invaluable consulting. The program included two bootcamps and an array of enriching workshops, equipping 13 startups with essential skills and knowledge to thrive in this dynamic sector.

Launched this March by INNO, the North-West of Romania Regional Development Agency’s department responsible for regional innovation and attracting investors, LevelUP is the first accelerator in Romania exclusively dedicated to startups in the fields of health and life sciences.

On the Demo Day of the program, 12 innovative startups showcased their cutting-edge solutions before a distinguished jury panel comprising eminent figures from investment funds, private clinics, and EIT Health, underlining the exceptional progress achieved through this accelerator program.

On this occasion, we conducted interviews with 12 key stakeholders of the program, including participants and jury members, with the aim of garnering their perspectives and insights on the healthcare innovation ecosystem in Romania.

The winning startups of the LevelUP accelerator

The jury conferred four awards, which were claimed by two of the pitching startups, Neurorevive an innovative and cutting-edge technology for post-stroke rehabilitation and Hempaid, developing product ranges based on various medical innovations such as medical cannabis for the prevention or treatment of conditions like anxiety, insomnia, autism, or neurodegenerative diseases with minimal side effects. 

The accounts of the winning startup founders exemplify the profound impact of accelerator programs on startups, showcasing how dedicated mentorship, structured tasks, and collaborative environments can accelerate progress and drive success in innovative ventures.

Viviana Cornețeanu, COO and co-founder of Hempaid, shared her perspective on the transformative journey within the accelerator program. She remarked, “The experience in the accelerator was better than expected actually. We met a lot of wonderful people, starting with the experts that really helped us understand the world that we just went through, and then the ideas of the startups. It really was an amazing experience and we are glad we took part in it. Our startup already has revenue, so the funding was not the problem for us, but rather making sure that we took care of all the steps necessary towards international expansion. If I take a look at how we went into the accelerator at the beginning of the year, and six months later, I’m seeing a huge progress and the program really helped us focus on the main objectives and the things that needed to be done were very clear to us, and also the visibility helped us a lot.”.

Adrian Fechete, CTO of Neurorevive, emphasized the pivotal role of the accelerator program in their fledgling venture. He remarked, “Regarding the experience with the accelerator, I’m not overstating when I say that for us it’s the greatest thing that could have happened. And I say this because our project is extremely young. It only started one month prior to the accelerator. And the fact that we got tasks to do every two weeks seemed daunting. At first, we never fully achieved the task that we wanted, but at least we got something done, and the fact that we got little things done consistently, greatly accelerated the entire process for us. So it was truly an accelerator experience.”

Views from the jury members about the acceleration program and the innovation ecosystem in general

The jury expressed satisfaction with the program and the results showcased by the startups. Subsequently, we availed ourselves of the opportunity to glean their perspectives on the startups, as well as their assessments of the other participants, the accelerator, its achievements, and their vision for its future evolution.

Roel Kamerling senior program developer at TU Delft, coordinator of the DRIVE Innovation Ecosystem Development at EIT Health was one member of the jury of the Demo Day. Four years ago Roel told us in an interview about the need of creating such a program and later an incubator in Cluj, and shared with us some best practices for creating an innovation ecosystem in healthcare, from TU Delft, the Netherlands. We asked Roel how he sees now, as an arch over time, the performance of the ecosystem with the help of this acceleration program.

“I see the outcomes and it’s really different from last time I met some of the teams. They are so much more mature in how they present themselves, they have a professional way of defining where they are and what they still need to do, and they have pitched very well. That’s just a tremendous result to see, and I think that’s what you need to build. If you want to create a bigger innovation ecosystem, you need to have a lot of such teams working on it, being supported by the community and by the experienced people, and then become experienced people themselves. And that’s what we see happening here. So that’s very encouraging. As an observer and a witness of this, that makes me very happy”, said Roel Kamerling.

Roel contends that the Northwestern region of Romania possesses a wealth of favorable elements conducive to fostering innovation, including esteemed universities, a robust regional innovation ecosystem, and a strategically devised smart specialization framework. He further highlighted the LevelUp program as a valuable addition to this milieu and provided specific recommendations for its continued advancement.

“I would recommend to continue running the program like this and maybe extend, as now is focused on Life Sciences and Health, but could be focusing on other things as well. My personal recommendation would also be to make sure that you will get a physical space, like a multi-tenant building with some basic facilities, but also lab facilities or computer facilities. I think it is important for the teams to meet each other at a regular basis in physical spot, with mentors, with VCs, local doctors like from the rehabilitation center or other hospitals from here, a place to meet up and see each other, organized or at random, that facilitates the innovation effort”, added Roel Kamerling.

Montse Daban, Director of Science Policy & Internationalization at BIOCAT, Barcelona, emphasized that supporting innovation in healthcare is much more than supporting the startup scene, supporting the health of the people is supporting the economy and jobs, testing technology is advancing on the wellbeing of the population. She also mentioned the need to attract talented people and to get the openness of the public health system.

“An accelerator is a necessary step to support the growth and to identify which are the gaps and provide a system of support to overcome barriers. But the main aspects that we have to tackle for an ecosystem to grow has to do with talent. So we have to work on skilled people to lead the solutions. Also from the innovators, but also from the policymakers and from the healthcare professional side. So talent, attracting talent, increasing capabilities, also accompanied to identify opportunities of corporate funding. Of course, adopting the innovation, having innovators in a country that is not ready to include these innovations in their health system is missing huge opportunities. So we need also to work on the capability of the health system or the public procurers to buy innovation for the sake of the society.”, said Montse Daban.

Ioana David, Managing Director at Cleverage, a VC fund investing in technology-based solutions for the healthcare sector, underscored the significance of accelerators in equipping startups for effective engagement and presentation to potential investors.

“Accelerators are an important part of the startup ecosystem and we were very happy to find out that in Romania we have an accelerator dedicated to the healthcare sector. The number of HealthTech startups coming to market increased significantly from last year, and the number of startups coming and pitching for us has also increased in recent months and I think this is quite a positive side. Of course, there is still work to do for the entrepreneurs to be well prepared, to know what to expect, and this is why an accelerator like we attended here today is important”, said Ioana David.

An insight into the healthtech innovation ecosystem

The healthcare innovation ecosystem in Romania is still in its infancy, but things have been growing quite a lot and quite steady in the past six years. At the moment, Activize, a Cluj -based organization supporting startups is monitoring around 200 startups which have a health related component in the product, in Romania. Some of them are growing, having 50.000 Euro per month in revenue some others are very definitely at the beginning. Mircea Vadan, Managing Partner of Activeze gave us a valuable insight into the Cluj innovation ecosystem.

“In Cluj, one of the smart specializations of the region is medical tech, and we see a lot of activity here, Cluj being also a medical center, having companies which are doing health connected products or research. We need to improve in terms of funding HealthTech, private funding. This is tricky for investors because they’re a little bit more reluctant in the HealthTech area. The reason is that they consider it a slower market, slower to change, slower to grow. But once you get a foothold in the market, you can grow steadily. And there’s a lot of regulations which can stop a startup from actually growing and as well as many other interests in the domain. So that’s why it can be challenging to have HealthTech startups, but we’re hopeful, having a lot of medical students, having a lot of doctors, having hospitals, having an open municipality, having many startup players here, support, and a little bit of funding to run programs like LevelUP. I think it’s promising, but still definitely needs a lot of things to evolve. Happily, we have the EIT Health support which is enabling programs like this to happen.”, said Mircea Vadan.

Views from different other stakeholders of the program and participants at the Demo Day

One of the partners of the accelerator was the IT company Nagarro, and Cristiana Bogateanu, Business Development Specialist in Life Sciences & Healthcare at Nagarro, and mentor of the program, expressed her views about the accelerator.

“We were very happy to support this initiative in the Life Science and Healthcare domain as Nagarro is one of the companies that has a dedicated business unit in this field, therefore for us it is very important to join technology and innovation programs and not only this but also support them and get involved. What we did is to help them in the facilitation consultancy, but also in the field of offering infrastructure for facilitation sessions. My opinion is that we need such clusters in Life Science and HealthTech, because, as we know, most of the innovation in that digitization process comes from startups. On the other hand, I believe that the path that a startup went through this program is very important for them, to be able to design their business model and business case and get a good market fit.”, said Cristiana Bogateanu.

At the event, there were present also representatives of other local innovation ecosystems from Romania, like Rebeca Avram, Community Manager of Make it in Oradea and Elena Ovreiu, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of BIOdyssey incubator, Bucharest, which shared with us their views about the LevelUp program and innovation in healthcare.

Elena Ovreiu, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of BIOdyssey incubator, highlighted the significance of the growing healthcare innovation ecosystem in Romania, emphasizing the role of accelerators like this in its expansion. She remarked: “I’m happy to see that the ecosystem is growing, and this accelerator is part of the bigger ecosystem in healthcare innovation in Romania. When I started to build programs in Romania in 2015, the ecosystem was just in the beginning, but now more and more programs like this one are being developed in Romania and this accelerator is a very good initiative that will help increase innovation in healthcare in Romania and in Eastern Europe. Romania has the potential to become an important player at the regional and global level in this field, because it has the human resources, both doctors and technical experts in technology, to develop this field. These kinds of programs have the potential to bring together the tech and medical communities, and to catalyze them and make them work together, also giving them business support”.

Rebeca Avram, Community Manager of Make it in Oradea, highlighted Oradea’s also favorable position for advancements in medical and scientific innovation. She stated, “Oradea is also very well positioned for innovation in medical and science and we have the openness of the public sector and also of the medical sector. Oradea is very eager to find innovative solutions which can develop the hospitals and the communications with the patients. Our organization, Make it Oradea, is offering mentorship, investment and all kinds of support with partnerships”.

An accelerator for the whole innovation ecosystem in Romania

The 2023 assessment of the healthcare innovation ecosystem by Innostars finds that companies involved in EIT Health programs in Romania are excelling in areas like getting external grants, valuing their businesses, and having a high percentage of startups that are entering the market. However, they are lagging a bit behind their peers in terms of raising funds from external sources. The survey responses indicate that Romania has a strong level of maturity in terms of experimenting and trying out new ideas, as supported by the numbers. It’s worth noting that Romanian participants contributed more to the survey than those from other countries, which highlights the excellent network and collaboration fostered by EIT Health and their local representative FreshBlood HealthTech.

Dr. Ion-Gheorghe Petrovai, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at FreshBlood HealthTech, shared his perspective on the transformative impact of the LevelUP 2023 program, stating, “Based on the ecosystem mapping of 2022 the Romanian HealthTech innovation ecosystem was lagging in public authorities support. The LevelUP program organised by ADR North West with EITHealth support is showing to the other authorities and to the ecosystem that it can be done and it can be done very well, with strong feedback, involvement of all regional stakeholders (universities, companies, investors, etc.). I am looking forward to the business and to the mindset impact that this project will have starting from this year already!”.

Dr. Petrovai’s remarks underscore the catalytic role of the LevelUP program in not only addressing a critical gap in public support for the Romanian HealthTech ecosystem but also in setting a high standard for collaborative engagement among various regional stakeholders. His anticipation for the forthcoming business and mindset transformation signals the potential for long-lasting positive effects in healthcare innovation in Romania.

The story of LevelUP

LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator program in Cluj-Napoca has been developed with assistance from EIT Health as part of their DRIVE program by INNO, the North-West of Romania Regional Development Agency’s department responsible for regional innovation and attracting investors. Laviniu Chis, Head of Department INNO – Rethinking Business Networks, explained how the program took shape.

In their journey towards fostering a robust innovation ecosystem, the INNO team initially engaged with the healthcare sector through the EIT Drive program. This experience prompted them to contemplate the development of an ecosystem specifically tailored to the healthcare domain. Upon returning with invaluable insights, a thorough analysis of the existing ecosystem was undertaken. Patterns began to emerge, highlighting significant needs within both the regional and national healthcare landscapes. Recognizing the profound importance of the healthcare sector, they swiftly turned their attention towards it. This decision was further validated by the inclusion of healthcare in the RDA’s smart specialization strategy, reinforcing its status as a top-tier priority. With strategic alignment and a firm foundation, they embarked on the logical next step: the creation of a program and initiatives geared towards strengthening the regional health ecosystem.

“The main stakeholders that we see around the program and which we are trying to target are from the quadruple helix. So we mainly target public institutions like hospitals and clinics, because you want them to be more open to new ideas, innovative ideas, and work more and closely with startups. Then, we go towards the private sector. We are trying to build partnerships with bigger companies like Samsung or Philips who have health divisions that can support us with know-how and some incentives, or even help with scaling and internationalization of the startups. So this will be the second group of stakeholders. Then we have the enablers as we like to call them, NGOs who are active in this field who want nothing more than a healthy ecosystem to persevere and prosper here. They will be the third stakeholder and the fourth will be academia so we are trying to get involved in the medical universities and all the other important universities that we have in our region, because they sit on a mountain of knowledge and we want to help them transfer that knowledge into the market. Of course, not all knowledge is applicable, but I think that we can find some part of that to be applicable and we will want to make it available to startups and the private sector.”, explained Laviniu Chis.

On the Demo Day of the LevelUp 12 startups pitched in front of the jury, there were 13 graduating startups out of the 14 that were selected. Stefan Rusu, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Expert at INNO Platform and LevelUp program coordinator explained which support the graduating startups will get next.

“We’re also going to have some other programs to support them. Whether being partnerships, webinars, information regarding other projects. They’re going to receive mentoring from the EIT Health’s coaching network up until the end of the year. I know for sure that some of these startups will go on and impact the lives of others positively. So I’m really glad for that. It’s been a challenge. I know what to improve for the next editions and the project will live on and help other startups in Health and Life Sciences, changing the lives for everybody.”, said Ștefan Rusu.

As a conclusion, Romania is becoming more visible on the map of HealthTech Innovation in Europe and we are seeing both the tip of the pyramid, with startups like dotLumen and Re.Flex and the consolidation of the base through initiatives like LevelUP, HealthInnovation Zone, BIOdyssey, FutureMakers and Hubvantage, that can contribute to both stronger stakeholders involvement and to the future stars, with european and global impact.

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The inaugural Cluj Hackathon, the first hackathon in Romania focused on Artificial Intelligence, and Generative AI took place between June 16-18, 2023, at the Bosch Engineering Center Cluj. More than 115 participants, organized into 43 teams, enthusiastically joined the hackathon, making it one of the most successful events of this kind in Romania.

For three days, the participants had the opportunity to build and develop revolutionary applications and platforms, with access to high-quality mentoring, a wide range of resources, and networking opportunities, with participants from across the country. 

Remarkably, the youngest contestants in the hackathon were two boys, aged only 12, who independently acquired coding skills at home. Motivated to learn new things and connect with like-minded individuals, they opted to participate. With the guidance of mentors, they successfully developed an AI story generator. “It feels immensely gratifying when you code something and witness its functionality. That’s what drives me,” expressed Prisăcaru Thomas, one of the youngest participants in the hackathon.

The inception of the hackathon took shape when Adrian Vlasiu discovered the boundless potential of ChatGPT. His early engagement with OpenAI’s groundbreaking technology evoked a “deja-vu” moment, similar to the iPhone’s initial market launch. Fuelled by this profound insight, Vlasiu resolved to orchestrate a hackathon, thereby providing a platform for others to explore and harness the transformative power of this remarkable technological advancement.

“I wanted to organize the biggest hackathon in Cluj. And I wanted to organize the Untold Festival of hackathons to set a new standard in terms of satisfaction for the participants, satisfaction for the sponsors, and the whole overall experience of the competition. The engaging format of the Cluj Hackathon proved to be a winning recipe because the participants saw a different hackathon format. It’s not just about the competition or the prizes; it’s all about building community, engaging with each other, and succeeding by helping others succeed. We had very generous sponsors and top-class companies like Bosch that enabled us the hackathon location within Cluj-Napoca at the Bosch Engineering Center Cluj, one of the smartest buildings in the office scene in Romania. Untold Festival and Banca Transilvania supported our initiative, giving us a huge boost of confidence. And, of course, we had a scorching topic, artificial intelligence, and ChatGPT.”, said Adrian Vlasiu, founder of the Cluj Hackathon.

Out of the 43 teams which took part, team TestBusters emerged triumphant as they won the first prize in the hackathon. Their creation, an AI-powered solution for automated software testing, showcased ingenuity that pleased all the judges. There were other outstanding projects, and eventually, the score was tight. However, when measured against the hackathon’s primary objective of delivering a functional product within the allotted time, TestBusters stood firmly at the forefront, embodying the essence of the event.

“We have created a solution that uses artificial intelligence to test applications automatically, but not only does the test, it also creates tests automatically. With artificial intelligence, it’s possible to automate more and do more. Basically, those tests are needed in every software or manufacturing firm, so we can solve them by automating them. The goal of this kind of application is ease of use. The product manager or the product owner can use it because it’s very simplified; you don’t need to know how to code; you need to fill out a form, and the computer will be able to understand what you want to do.” explained their solution, Gaëtan de Smet and Stan Ciprian, two of the members of the winning team.

The second place was awarded to the Tech Titans, who worked on detecting anomalies in a dataset from a sensor system (car batteries). Their project underscores the importance of data analysis in solving real-world issues. And, not to be overshadowed, Brainiax took the third spot for their effective solution for detecting potholes on the road. As one of the lead engineers from Bosch pointed out, detecting and analyzing potholes on the road in real-time is one of the toughest engineering challenges in the auto industry today.

A team of mentors from diverse backgrounds in technology and entrepreneurship extended unwavering support to the hackathon participants. Their invaluable expertise and guidance catalyzed innovation and critical thinking, nurturing an environment where teams could thrive and unleash their true potential. Through their mentorship, these seasoned professionals empowered the participants, enabling them to transcend boundaries and realize their ideas.

“We started with 43 teams. I was amazed by how motivated they were and how fast they developed a functional prototype that fit the purpose they created it for. It was an excellent start for the participants, and I think that maybe all the startups should go through a hackathon at some point to kickstart their idea.”, said Smaranda Ignat, mentor.

“I’ve seen some great ideas, for example, one team taking care of the blind people and trying to integrate them in society by offering an easier integration in the digital world, like websites that can be translated into Braille, using speech-to-text. I’ve learned a lot from the teams. I believe this mentorship experience happened from both sides. I hope to see at least one or two of the teams hopping to the next stage and talking to some investors.” added Victor Dinică, mentor.

The host for the hackathon was none other than the Bosch Engineering Center Cluj. Renowned for its cutting-edge work in developing software and hardware solutions for automated, electric, and connected driving technologies, the center boasts an end-to-end approach. Bosch Engineering Center Cluj is a pivotal software hub in the realm of automated driving innovation, from crafting the software integrated within the vehicle to the cloud-based software that facilitates seamless connectivity.

“We’ve hosted the Cluj Hackathon to enable the community to grow because AI is a promising technology. Reflecting on our collaborative internal working environment, one of our goals as an engineering center is to develop with the local and international communities. We cannot do a one-man-show these days, it takes teams to build big things, and as a reflection of that, we want to be part of the community, the ecosystem and develop together with the universities, other companies, and startups.”, said Cătălin Golban, responsible for the Department developing Computer Vision technology for automated driving at Bosch Engineering Center Cluj.

When considering productivity enhancements, implementing AI can yield significant optimizations across various job domains, encompassing software development and testing. However, the realm of technology development is also profoundly impacted. Notably, Bosch has been harnessing the power of AI for an extensive duration, commencing a decade ago with the ambitious objective of assembling a team specializing in computer vision for automated driving. The outcomes of this endeavor have been truly remarkable, with millions of cars worldwide currently equipped with AI-based technology crafted by the Engineering Center situated in Cluj-Napoca.

“For us, AI is not new, but we see more and more new models emerging, which help us solve problems that previously were either unsolvable or maybe were solved by rather traditional algorithmic methods. The ecosystem consisting of startups and companies needs to adapt, it needs to professionally convert people in the software area to get familiar with using AI when developing features and as productivity tools. I think we should, as a community, not miss that train.

I also think such hackathons’ social and learning parts are essential. People came here to learn not only about technology but also how to pitch ideas and present what they think. I believe that big things can be done in teams, through collaboration, by sharing know-how and exchanging ideas; this is how the community will grow. Events like Cluj Hackathon are a big boost for the community.”, added Cătălin Golban.

With their sights set on the future, the organizers expressed their aspiration for the Cluj Hackathon to become an enduring tradition, extending its legacy into the upcoming year. Driven by an unwavering commitment to excellence, they seek to elevate the standards of hackathon organization, aiming to amplify the event’s quality and the unparalleled value it delivers to participants. By striving for the maximum return on investment, the organizers are relentlessly creating an even more remarkable and rewarding experience for all involved.

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