The Romanian technology industry is undergoing a transformative stage, evolving from a scaling model to one of pure innovation. This was the central conclusion of the ANIS International Summit 2026, a landmark event held on May 12, 2026, in Bucharest, where the Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ) team played an active role in defining the country’s new competitive edge.
Cristina Baghiu, DIZ Coordinator, alongside Simona Caraiman, Vice-rector Universitatea Tehnică Gheorghe Asachi din Iași and Mara Toma, DIZ Head of Business Growth, represented the team during a day marked by strategic debates on Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, and the power of local ecosystems.
Regional Innovation as a Driver of National Competitiveness
One of the ANIS summit’s key moments was the roundtable titled “Regional Innovation Ecosystems and Competitiveness: A Place-Based Approach to Romania’s Innovation Transition.” Cristina Baghiu was part of this session and participated in discussions focused on the role of regional ecosystems in accelerating Romania’s transition toward an economic model based on innovation.
Excellence in IT: 68 Projects Defining the Future
In addition to her role as a speaker, Cristina Baghiu contributed to validating this year’s top technological initiatives by serving on the jury for the IT&C Industry Excellence Awards.
The 2026 edition was a historic one: 68 projects submitted by 45 elite companies. This density of visionary solutions confirms that the Romanian software industry no longer just provides services but is creating intellectual property and products with a global impact.
Success for the DIZ Ecosystem on the ANIS Gala Podium
The evening’s highlight, the ANIS Awards Gala, brought immense joy to our community in Iași and the North-East region. Two prominent members of the DIZ ecosystem were officially recognized as innovation leaders:
- 🏆 Marian Călborean (OPTI Software) – won the Best Research Product award for the project “AI Architecture for B2B in 2026.”
- 🏆 Apollo AI Technologies – was named Best Start-up of the Year, confirming their remarkable trajectory and exceptional technological vision.
This recognition is all the more valuable in the context in which the extended ecosystem of the DIZ was also represented by other organizations that were among the finalists of the competition. Companies such as VOIS, Quartz Matrix and Adservio confirmed, by their presence in the final stage, the high level of maturity, competitiveness and innovation capacity of the technological community in the region.
A Future Built on Collaboration
Participating in the ANIS International Summit 2026 reconfirms DIZ’s mission to act as a catalyst between regional talent and the national and international stage. We are proud to be part of such a vibrant community determined to transform Romania into a reference technological hub.
Congratulations to the ANIS team for a successful event and to all the companies that had the courage to propose projects that redefine the limits of technology. Innovation is, indeed, Romania’s new competitive advantage!