The new stage of the hub coordinated by Cluj IT Cluster brings digitalisation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity services for SMEs, public institutions and healthcare organisations.
Cluj-Napoca, October 2026
Cluj IT Cluster announces the launch of DIH4Society 2.0 – “The Digital Innovation Hub for a smarter, safer and more sustainable society”. It is the new stage of the European digital innovation hub that it coordinates. From 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029, the project will continue to support SMEs, public institutions and healthcare organisations in the North-West and South-West Oltenia regions in the digital transformation process.
DIH4Society 2.0 is implemented by a consortium coordinated by Cluj IT Cluster, which also includes the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, the Bistrița-Năsăud Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova. The partners collaborate with an extended network of organisations from the innovation ecosystem of the two development regions of Romania.
The project has a total eligible value of 23,071,739.48 RON (EUR 4,526,000.49). It is funded through a hybrid model, in equal shares, through the European Commission's Digital Europe Programme and the Smart Growth, Digitalisation and Financial Instruments Programme 2021–2027 (PoCIDIF).
The new stage continues the experience gained through DIH4Society 1.0, through which over 200 organisations benefited from support in the digitalisation process and over 1,000 services were provided. DIH4Society 2.0 builds on this experience, but places a stronger emphasis on two essential areas for the coming years: artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, alongside digital transformation.
From a concrete need to the right technology
Through DIH4Society 2.0, organisations will be able to access a portfolio of approximately 80 services, at no direct cost to eligible beneficiaries, as they are funded through the project.
The services cover the entire journey of an organisation in the digitalisation process: from assessing the level of digital maturity and identifying needs, to testing technologies before investment, consultancy in AI, cybersecurity and digitalisation, demonstrations and access to testing infrastructures, training programmes, support for identifying funding opportunities and connecting with relevant expertise and partners.
By 2029, DIH4Society 2.0 aims to support 192 organisations, including 118 SMEs, 49 public institutions and 25 healthcare organisations, in the North-West and South-West Oltenia regions.
The first calls through which organisations will be able to access the DIH4Society 2.0 services will be launched this autumn.
The official launch takes place on 22 October, at DTX2026
The new DIH4Society stage will be officially presented at Digital Transformation Experience 2026 – DTX2026, which will take place on 22 October 2026, at Amfiteatru, Banca Transilvania, in Cluj-Napoca.
The event will bring together companies, experts and representatives of the innovation ecosystem for an applied discussion about digitalisation and about how technology can respond to real needs in organisations.
Participants will be able to discover the DIH4Society 2.0 services, the new calls and the concrete way in which they can be accessed, along with examples and practical experiences on the use of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity solutions.
Participation is free of charge, upon registration.
DTX2026 details and registration
Beyond the project: building a hub that continues to provide value to the ecosystem
DIH4Society 2.0 has a three-year implementation horizon, but the long-term vision goes beyond the duration of the project. The objective is to consolidate DIH4Society as a stable access point to expertise, infrastructure, technology and digital transformation services, especially in the field of AI, able to continue to respond to the needs of companies and organisations after the end of the current funding period. For DIH4Society, this evolution also provides the direction for the coming years: from a project with a fixed implementation period to a sustainable structure, connected to the European innovation ecosystem and capable of continuously supporting the adoption of new technologies in the economy and society.
About DIH4Society
DIH4Society is a European Digital Innovation Hub coordinated by Cluj IT Cluster, which supports SMEs, public institutions and healthcare organisations in the digital transformation process. In the 2026–2029 stage, DIH4Society 2.0 is implemented by Cluj IT Cluster, the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, the Bistrița-Năsăud Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, with a focus on digital transformation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
DIH4Society 2.0 Project SMIS 2021 365825 – PCIDIF/1025/PCIDIF_P6/OP1/RSO1.6/PCIDIF_A14
DEP: 101256843 — DIH4Society 2.0 — DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEA-08
Finanțat de Uniunea Europeană. Punctele de vedere și opiniile exprimate aparțin însă exclusiv autorului (autorilor) și nu reflectă neapărat punctele de vedere ale Uniunii Europene sau ale Comisiei Europene. Nici Uniunea Europeană, nici autoritatea care acordă finanțarea nu pot fi considerate răspunzătoare pentru acestea.
