Description
Cluj Innovation Days (CID), the annual conference organized by the Cluj IT Cluster, the largest and most representative IT industry association in Romania, reached in 2024 its 12th edition and is organized under the motto "Digital Innovations for a Sustainable and Secure Future".
As in previous editions, the conference brought to the public a full line-up of high-profile speakers, over two days, March 21 and 22, 2024, in two separate locations in Cluj-Napoca.
Thus, on March 21, starting at 9.00 a.m., at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cluj-Napoca, the Cluj Innovation Days stage welcomed guests such as: Ariana Năstăseanu - Program Coordination Manager, CINEA - European Commission, Ramona Moldovan - Deputy Secretary General at the Ministry of Energy, Ovidiu Cîmpean - Secretary of State at the Ministry of European Investments and Projects or Manuela Freté, Senior Advisor, Smart Cities and Communities, Smart Innovation Norway. The Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Emil Boc, was also present, as always.
"With this edition we continued our series of events dedicated to topical issues in the business and public sectors in Romania and Europe. Sustainability and security are unavoidable topics on the agenda of organizations, and decision-makers need to find appropriate solutions, sometimes very quickly, in order to adapt and develop further. As usual, Cluj Innovation Days comes to their rescue and we bring to the conference stage experts and topics that help us navigate through all these challenges. We have two full days, with high-profile guests and a complex program, but also initiatives that we will launch to the public attention on this occasion", said Andrei Kelemen, CEO of Cluj IT Cluster.
The first day's proceedings were divided into several panels. In the opening, a plenary session on how innovative approaches and cutting-edge technologies can strengthen sustainability and mitigate environmental challenges, facilitating the creation of resilient ecosystems.
Next, there were three panels where attendees were able to learn what's new in the field. The first panel was called "From Lost to Learned - Navigating Your Path in Sustainability and Digital Transformation" - where guests discussed how companies can integrate sustainability into their strategies and operations, with a focus on some educational insights. Participants explored the role of learning in making responsible business decisions that are environmentally sound and economically viable.
In the panel "Paving the path to a greener future through IoT sensor data solutions", the topic of sustainability from an IoT perspective addressed the topic of sustainability, technologies embedded in everything we do, from serving customers, partners and communities to operating as a responsible business. In this session, speakers from Accenture Industry X Romania, presented how they have transformed sustainability reporting using IoT sensor data. They brought real-life examples of how companies are collecting their data, gaining new insights and managing to take early action on non-compliance risks.
In the third panel of the day, titled "AI driven sustainability and resilience - a perspective on Romania's future", discussions focused on how Artificial Intelligence can shape Romania's future in terms of energy, environmental policies and the ethical use of technology.
The second day of Cluj Innovation Days took place at the HUB of the Technical University of Cluj Napoca, on Barițiu Street and started with a very important moment: a round table where decision makers from Romania debated the opportunity of setting up a regional cybersecurity HUB in Cluj-Napoca, an initiative of Cluj IT Cluster, under the aegis of DIH4Society.
Participation in the roundtable was possible by invitation only, and was attended by representatives of institutions, associations, academic entities and companies in the field. The session was chaired by Stelian Brad, President of the Cluj IT Cluster.
The day continued with two panels which approached the topic of cyber security from two different perspectives. In the panel "CyberScape: Safeguarding digital transformation in the age of cyber threats", we learned about how organizations that provide services to the general public are preparing to prevent and mitigate cybersecurity threats.
In the second panel "Futureproof: Navigating emerging threats and vulnerabilities through innovative technologies", participants learned about cutting-edge technologies and strategies that address emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
An eDIH4Society workshop concluded the day's activities, with attendees having the chance to learn about the comprehensive range of free services and opportunities tailored to meet the unique needs of SMEs for digital transformation.
The Cluj Innovation Days team is already gearing up for the 2025 edition of the event.