Digital Innovation Zone announces that 34 SMEs from the North-East region have joined the European program SustainX – Fostering Sustainable Digital Innovation Investment, an initiative dedicated to accelerating sustainable innovation and digital transformation across Europe. Funded by the European Union, the program offers Romanian companies the opportunity to develop innovative projects and access strategic financing tools such as the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3 Instrument).
SustainX brings together organizations from five European regions – Romania, Greece, Germany, Bulgaria, Latvia, and Spain (the Canary Islands) – aiming to create a solid preparation framework for SMEs seeking to enter Europe’s innovation value chains.
Romania, Strongly Represented in the Program
Out of more than 100 SMEs registered at European level, 34 come from the North-East region of Romania. They will benefit from advanced training, innovation assessments, and support in structuring their projects, with the goal of transforming innovative ideas into mature proposals eligible for European funding.
“Selecting such a large number of SMEs from the North-East demonstrates the real potential of our region in sustainable innovation and digitalization. SustainX will provide companies with concrete support to accelerate their development and join competitive European consortia,” said Cristina Baghiu, coordinator at Digital Innovation Zone.
A Structured Two-Stage Journey
The SustainX program offers SMEs a clear pathway divided into two complementary phases:
Phase 1 (Nov 2025 – Apr 2026): Capacity Development and Strengthening
Participants will have access to:
- local and interregional training sessions,
- workshops focused on regional challenges,
- peer-learning sessions with practical examples,
- IMP³ROVE tools for evaluating innovation maturity.
This stage prepares them for developing strong interregional projects.
Phase 2 (Dec 2025 – Sep 2026): Advanced Consultancy and Consortium Building
Approximately 20 of the most advanced initiatives will receive:
- detailed project analysis and plans to reach at least TRL 6,
- matchmaking with European partners,
- support in forming consortia for I3, Horizon, or EIC,
- assistance in budgeting, risk assessment, piloting, KPIs, co-financing strategies, and IP,
- preparation of final applications for Interregional Innovation Investments.
DIZ’s Role in Supporting North-East SMEs
As a European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH), Digital Innovation Zone coordinates the implementation of SustainX in Romania and facilitates connections between local companies and international partners. DIZ contributes to tailoring the innovation program for regional SMEs, strengthening their ability to attract European funding.
During a recent meeting, Răzvan Ungurașu, CEO of RaisisSoftware, and Cristina Baghiu, DIZ coordinator, highlighted the essential role of regional collaboration in the digital transformation of SMEs.
A Step Forward for Interregional Innovation
With over 100 participating European SMEs, SustainX confirms the potential of transnational collaboration. The program contributes to strengthening local ecosystems, accelerating digital transformation, and fostering sustainable innovation. For the selected Romanian companies, it represents a strategic opportunity to position themselves on the European innovation map.