Network & Ecosystem

Over Over 50 relevant actors are part of the associated network (technology solution providers, universities, research centres, cluster initiatives, chambers of commerce and industry, EEN members, SME associations, educational and business development services, banks and financial actors). We maintain active collaborations with public administrations and regional development agencies.

DIH4Society 2.0 consortium partners

Cluj IT Cluster – CJIT (coordonator DIH4Society)

An innovative cluster association founded in 2012 in Cluj-Napoca, which includes over 90 members: more than 60 IT companies, 14 public universities, 2 research institutes of the Romanian Academy, 10 other R&D institutes, public administrations, and SME associations. As members of the European Digital SME Alliance, people from CJIT hold leadership positions or participate in three thematic groups (Cyber & Data, AI, Digital Transformation).

CJIT has developed extensive expertise in project implementation, ecosystem building, and networking, as well as direct support for SMEs and the formation of national and international partnerships. This has been achieved through participation in over 10 projects focused on themes such as digital skills development, collaborative innovation and R&D, startup support, cluster development, and smart city initiatives, funded by Horizon 2020 and ESI funds.

With extensive experience in digital transformation, CJIT collaborated in 2021 with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) to pilot the DMA tool and methodology for the EDIH program. As the core of DIH4Society, the cluster leverages its established ecosystem to mobilize resources from technology solution and service providers, delivering innovative responses to the needs of both the private and public sectors.

Innovative testing facilities have been developed in partnership with members through joint projects such as: CREIC robolab, where CJIT designed the architecture and operates the lab in partnership with the City of Cluj. Other labs / testing facilities are partnered with Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai (neuroscience for social robotics) and Accenture. Access to financing and acceleration services for startups was brokered for 13 highly innovative startups, with a total value of almost EUR 1 million.

Networking activities support the internationalisation of members in emerging markets (Latin America, East Africa, the Middle East).

Technical University of Cluj-Napoca – UTCN

It is part of the European University of Technology consortium, with 12 faculties and local branches in nearby cities (Baia Mare, Bistrița, Satu Mare, Zalău, Alba Iulia). The university is recognised as one of the most important technical research universities in Romania, involved in innovation, technology transfer and close collaboration with the private sector.

Its research activities span a wide range of fields, including engineering, information and communication technology, renewable energy and ecology, nanomaterials, management and robotics, mechatronics and electrical engineering, future vehicles and housing.

UTCN, through its specialised laboratories and testing facilities in the key areas served by DIH4Society, provides technical services / testing expertise to approximately 60 private-sector clients annually. It is also actively involved in training programmes for the private sector through specialised departments (short, applied courses, specialisations).

Bistrița-Năsăud Chamber of Commerce and Industry

It represents over 250 member companies from Bistrița-Năsăud County (80% of the major employers). With over 30 years of experience in business support, access to financing and skills training, CCIBN brings valuable expertise in awareness-raising and impactful dissemination, training, support for SMEs in attracting public investment, and access to testing facilities for digital transformation. CCIBN runs training activities every year for several hundred learners in areas such as digitalisation, compliance and industries.

Business support services include access to financing, trademark consultancy, legal advice, business development, networking and representation. Over the last 30 years, the chamber has carried out more than 20 projects funded through schemes such as ESF, Horizon 2020 etc., with objectives of digital skills development, innovation and sectoral development. CCIBN is currently one of the representatives on the Smart Specialisation Strategy Committee, as well as in the Regional Consortium for education and training.

Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie din Craiova – UMFCV

A new partner in DIH4Society 2.0, UMFCV extends the hub's activity into the South-West Oltenia Region and brings into the consortium the expertise of a medical university for digital health projects. Within DIH4Society 2.0, UMFCV coordinates the activities dedicated to the innovation ecosystem – events, interconnection with other EDIH hubs and innovation brokerage – and supports the development of services for the medical sector. In addition, it offers medical units two services: real-world testing of an AI system for medical image analysis, medical decision support and chronic disease monitoring, and cybersecurity and data protection audits, carried out on the university's new server infrastructure.