Digital Innovation Zone – an initiative born in the region, for the region
Digital Innovation Zone is the first European Digital Innovation Hub in Romania’s North-East Region. This organization was launched at the initiative of the North-East Regional Development Agency, which—together with eight partner organizations—decided to contribute to the digitalization of our region.
The North-East Region often struggles between a lack of resources and enormous potential. Digital Innovation Zone was conceived as a genuine support space for companies, institutions, and individuals who want to turn ideas into concrete solutions.
Today, nearly three years after earning the title of European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH), we’re no longer talking about intentions alone. We’re talking about projects delivered, people trained, funds secured and—perhaps most importantly—the trust we’ve built step by step.
Trust-based relationships, tailored services for real needs
At DIZ, every project begins with a conversation. We meet with teams to understand where they are, what they want, and what resources they have. Then, together, we build a plan: clear, realistic, and customized.
We don’t deliver “copy-paste” solutions, but genuine interventions designed for each beneficiary’s needs. Once we’ve jointly refined an idea, we start compiling the technical requirements to bring the entrepreneurs’ vision to life.
Our working model is simple yet rigorous:
- Discovery sessions – we begin by understanding the challenges, objectives, and context.
- Digital-maturity assessment and the definition of a strategic roadmap.
- Test-before-invest – entrepreneurs can try out technologies before making major investments, thereby avoiding risks.
- Digital literacy and capability courses – so teams understand, not just implement.
- Support for accessing funding – including PoC development, feasibility studies, and innovation reports.
- Access to an international ecosystem – for matchmaking, co-development, and scaling.
Examples of projects that have left a tangible impact
- Apollo AI – An ambitious healthcare initiative: a decision-support chatbot for physicians. With DIZ’s help, the platform was tested by 28 cardiology specialists, refined with real hospital feedback, and the company received CTO-as-a-Service, mentorship in AI and security, as well as support for European funding applications.
- Adservio – In an increasingly fragile educational context, the company launched an emotional-wellbeing module for teachers and students, featuring video content and emotion-management tools. With DIZ’s strategic and technical backing, the project took shape and is now a key digital resource for the school community.
- Eleven Psychology Clinic – A psychology-oriented startup that wanted to apply AI in a sensitive field. With DIZ’s support, the clinic built a functional proof-of-concept for an AI conversational assistant, designed for non-technical users with a focus on ethics and psychological validation.
Digital Innovation Zone’s activity in numbers
There are figures that look good in a report—and figures that speak to real impact. For us, they’re both.
In three years of intense activity—especially during the first two—Digital Innovation Zone has delivered for the North-East Region:
- €400 million attracted for clients;
- €7 million in ongoing applications;
- 120 feasibility studies completed;
- 106 organizations that underwent a digital-maturity audit and received a personalized roadmap;
- Over 650 people trained—some of whom are now launching careers in tech;
- 134 technology providers integrated into the ecosystem;
- 77 organizations supported with digitalization and innovation services—from hospitals and schools to AI and psychology startups.
Digital Innovation Zone isn’t about how many deliverables you send; it’s about how many people you help to understand, implement, and gain confidence.
We don’t simply digitalize. We connect to reality and transform it together with those who want more. Because digital transformation doesn’t start with a tool—it starts with a partner who says, “Let’s do this together.”
We take responsibility for the quality of our services and are always open to constructive dialogue. What we don’t deliver are paper-only solutions without genuine engagement from both sides.
