On November 21, 2025, Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ), together with its partners in the European projects MERIT, xDIH, and CAMPUS, organized #DIZisITDay, a day dedicated to cybersecurity at the Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași(TUIASI).
The event was held in partnership with TUIASI and the Technical University of Moldova(UTM).
A key moment of the day was the workshop xDIH “RO-MD Partnerships for Resilience: How Academia Supports SMEs in Strengthening Cybersecurity,” which highlighted the importance of Romania–Republic of Moldova cross-border cooperation in increasing the digital resilience of SMEs and of the regional ecosystem.
The workshop brought together representatives from academia and industry from both countries and showcased how educational and technological partnerships can build bridges of digital resilience in response to emerging cyber challenges.
Focus on Cross-Border Cooperation and SME Support
The session featured insights from experts such as:
- Marius Dumitrașcu – Head of Research, Training and Partnerships, Cybercor, who presented practical perspectives on developing cybersecurity skills in both educational and industrial environment;
- Cătălin Mironeanu – cybersecurity expert and lecturer at TUIASI, who discussed the real skills needs of SMEs and the solutions offered by Digital Innovation Hubs.
The central theme of the discussion was how universities can help small and medium-sized enterprises become more resilient, better prepared to identify and respond to increasingly sophisticated digital threats. Presentations emphasized the role of Digital Innovation Hubs — including xDIH and DIZ, as facilitators of digital skills, technical assessments, and pilot solutions for the private sector.
The Impact of Digital Resilience for SMEs
In an increasingly digital economy, cybersecurity vulnerabilities pose a direct threat to business continuity and competitiveness.
The workshop offered concrete examples of RO–MD collaborations and illustrated how SMEs can use digital hub networks to:
- assess their level of digital security;
- access cybersecurity-related professional training programs.
A Unified Perspective on Digital Resilience
The “RO-MD Partnerships for Resilience” session demonstrated that digital challenges cannot be addressed in isolation. Collaboration between universities, digital hubs, and the business environment is essential for transforming digital skills into a competitive advantage. Digital resilience means not only defense, but also preparation, adaptation, and innovation.
The #DIZisITDay event connected the three pillars of the European cybersecurity ecosystem:
- education (MERIT, xDIH);
- SME support (EDIH DIZ, xDIH);
- regional resilience policies (CAMPUS),
all brought together in a day dedicated to generating ideas, connections, and practical solutions for a safer digital society.
