Who we are

FOUNDERS

The First European Digital Innovation Hub (eDIH) in the North-East Region

Launched in 2019, at the initiative of the North-East Regional Development Agency, in collaboration with universities, clusters, and numerous private companies specializing in technology and digital marketing in the region. These entities provide expertise, solutions, programs, and professionals to support digital transformation and innovation among SMEs and public institutions in the healthcare and manufacturing sectors.

Founders

Cristina Baghiu

Hub Coordinator, Digital Culture and Skills Group Leader

Atelierul de Idei & ONG DIZ President

Conf. Dr. Simona Caraiman

Academic coordinator and Test-before-invest Leader

Technical University “Gh. Asachi” Iasi

Lidia Mocanu (Bețoaea)

Innovation Ecosystem Leader

North East Regional Development Agency

Georgiana Dragomir

Digital Communication Leader

Grapefruit

Carmen Mihai

Health Group Co-Leader

Imago-Mol

Conf. Dr. Ionuț Nistor, MD

Health Group Co-Leader

MAVIS Center, UMF Iași

Florin Cardașim

AI Group Leader

Strongbytes

Our History

Funded as a non-profit initiative.
Member of the international networks EIT Health, EIT manufacturing, DIH2, I4MS.
2019
2020
2021
2022
We became a fully operational DIH focused on Artificial Intelligence and advanced digital skills.
DIZ becomes the only eDIH in North-East Romania. We became a certified Change2Twin HUB and IT Cluster Ambassador.

We are part of several industry associations and DIH networks at EU level: DIH2, I4MS, DIH certified Change2Twin, EEN node, EIT Health and EIT Manufacturing.
We support successful and sustainable digital and green transformation in the region. We help SMEs and public hospitals advance their digital transformation. We support innovative companies to create new digital products and solutions.

What is a
European Digital Innovation Hub?

European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) are one-stop shops specializing in helping companies tackle digital challenges and become more competitive. These entities have a regional presence and a deep understanding of the needs and problems companies face in their area. Through the EDIH network, these hubs facilitate the exchange of best practices and provide needed skills that may not be available locally. With the support of EDIH hubs, companies have access to innovative services and training programs that help promote digital transformation.

The main activities carried out by EDIH are:
  • Providing technical expertise and the opportunity to test before investing in digital solutions.
  • Supports companies in improving business processes, production, products, or services through digital technologies.
  • Provides financial advice, training, and skills development required for successful digital transformation.

Our Objectives for 2021 - 2028

Our mission is to provide continuous support for assessing and improving the level of digitization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and local public administrations in the North-East Region. Additionally, we are committed to helping them identify suitable technological solutions, potential partners, and sources of funding needed to implement the solutions required to enhance their competitiveness, innovation index, and level of digitalization.

01.

Developing the concept of a one-stop-shop in the region through support services in the digitalization of companies and public institutions, covering the end-to-end process of digital innovation.

02.

Promoting regional, interregional, and international cooperation and collaboration among research, public, private, and academic sectors.

03.

Functioning as the epicenter of the regional digital innovation ecosystem in the North-East Region, taking a leadership role in the ICT sector and enhancing the ecosystem’s capacity.

04.

Transforming the workforce in the region into a highly digitized one, tailored to the needs of sectors with smart development potential in the region.

Extended Team of Digital Innovation Zone

North-East Regional Development Agency

Lidia Mocanu (Bețoaea)

One Stop Shop Office Manager

Silviu Stoica

One Stop Shop Office Expert

    Manuela Ciora

    One Stop Shop Office Expert

    Lidia Tepeș

    Accounting Office Expert

    Lucian Alexa

    IT Office Expert

    The North-East RDA stimulates and supports the exploitation of the regional potential.
    We are a non-governmental, non-profit, public utility organization with legal personality, which contributes to reducing regional disparities by stimulating the economic, social and cultural development of the North-East Region. All the steps undertaken by our organization converge towards increasing the level of prosperity of the region and increasing the quality of life among the inhabitants. Therefore, the whole activity of ADR North-East is at the service of the general public – the inhabitants of the North-East Region.
    We develop and promote regional development strategies, attract resources, identify and implement funding programs and provide services to sustainably stimulate economic growth, international partnerships and entrepreneurship.

    Cristina Baghiu

    Lead Consultant

    Iulia-Marina Sofian

    HR consultant

    Raluca-Elena Pricop

    HR consultant

    Ciprian Baghiu

    Expert In Education

    Atelierul de Idei is an innovation and digital culture agency, focused on designing and facilitating change processes in organizations. We are active in the market of training programs since 2019 and leaders in the Agility niche for HR, Co-founders and Lead training programs advanced digital skills and digital culture in the Digital Innovation Zone and Co-founders of the community of practice for agile businesses – Agile People Romania. We are part of HR Club (RO), Workplace Innovation (UK) and Excellence Hub of EMCC Romania for Agile Coaching. The mission of the Idea Workshop is to help teams acquire agile management skills and digital transformation.

    Georgiana Dragomir

    Digital Communication Leader

    Ancuța Ciocoiu

    Digital Strategist

    Irina Petrea

    Digital Marketing Specialist

    Grapefruit is an End-to-End digital agency with over 23 years of experience in the digital field and is the first Romanian agency specialized in user experience. It provides comprehensive digital consulting and services to multinational companies, helping them improve the value they deliver to customers, consumers and employees. With a diverse clientele from industries such as FMCG, Automotive and Energy and Finance, Grapefruit prides itself on strong and lasting partnerships built on trust and ongoing collaboration.

    Carmen Mihai

    Cluster Manager and Innovation Expert in Medicine

    Adrian Iftene

    Medtech Coordinator of the Cluster and Senior AI and Healthtech Expert in the Project

    Vasile Fotea

    Cluster President and Health Expert in the Project

    Diana Plugaru

    Project Coordinator and Project Consultant

    The North-East Regional Innovative Molecular and Structural Imaging Cluster (IMAGO-MOL), the only medical imaging cluster in Romania, is a non-governmental entity that aims to support the innovation and scientific competitiveness of its members, gathering under its umbrella 59 members from the region and beyond universities, companies, hospitals, facilitators, APLs, and other local organizations.

    Florin Cardașim

    Technology Expert And Community Builder

    Mădalina Moisă

    Project Manager And Community Builder

    Claudiu Costan

    Technology Expert And Community Builder

    Constanța Ghițu

    Technology Expert And Community Builder

    Strongbytes is a technology company that provides software engineering and capacity building services for data-driven, cloud-enabled organizations working in sectors such as healthcare, finance, automotive, government and more. It helps companies improve their ability to consistently access and analyze data to make accurate decisions by providing core capabilities such as cloud applications, data platforms and Machine Learning.

    Simona Caraiman

    Project Manager

    Cristina Baghiu

    HUB Coordinator

    Adrian Burlacu

    Senior Expert

    Constantin Catalin Dosoftei

    Senior Expert

    Robert Gabriel Lupu

    Senior Expert

    Nicolae Lucanu

    Senior Expert

    Maria Zauer

    Project Assistant

    Gabriela Popescu

    Financial manager

    TUIASI is one of the oldest and most renowned public higher education institutions in Romania, with an important tradition in engineering research and innovation. Our mission is to create and share scientific and technological knowledge for society and the environment, making significant contributions to global challenges in medicine, mobility, industry, or the environment. TUIASI supports digital transformation and innovation in the region by providing a comprehensive technical infrastructure and state-of-the-art expertise in areas such as AI, machine learning, data science, robotics, computer vision, industrial automation, digital twins, mixed reality applications, logistics demo cases with autonomous mobile robots, video inspection, etc.

    Ionuț Nistor

    Director of the Center for Innovation and Technological Transfer

    Alexandru Plesoianu

    Innovation and Technology Transfer Officer at CITT MAVIS

    Natalia Erbiceanu

    Administrative - Financial Manager at CITT MAVIS

    Cojocariu Mădalina

    Medical Bioengineer at CITT MAVIS

    Gheorghe Mahu

    Computer scientist at CITT MAVIS

    The University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa” of Iasi, Romania, is a public higher education and research institution offering bachelor, master, doctoral and continuing medical education. It is accredited by the European University Association (EUA) and the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). Named in honour of the scientist Grigore T. Popa, the University is classified by the Ministry of Education as a “university of research and advanced education”. The University is a complex higher education institution, comprising four faculties: Medicine, Pharmacy, Dental Medicine and Medical Bioengineering. With a teaching staff of 926, it trains around 10,000 students in 16 specialisations in three languages of instruction: Romanian, English and French.

    Cristina Baghiu

    Digital Innovation Zone Hub Coordinator

    Lidia Mocanu (Bețoaea)

    Strategy Director

    Adina Ghinea

    Expert on Digitization of Public Institutions

    Adelina Marinescu

    Senior Innovation Manager

      Victor Poede

      International Projects Expert

      Andreea Văculișteanu

      Ecosystem Innovation Expert

      Livia Onofrei

      Innovation Consultant

      Cristina Vărvăruc

      Project Manager

      Ionuț Vărvăruc

      Communication Expert

      Vlad Marinescu

      Assistant Projects

      Nicoleta Rinzascu

      Financial Director

      Irina Robuleț

      Non-Reimbursable Financing Consultant

      Georgiana Oprescu

      Digital Marketing Specialist

      Adina Serediuc

      Program Lead

      Launched in 2019, at the initiative of the North-East Regional Development Agency, in collaboration with universities, clusters and numerous private companies specialized in technology and digital marketing in the region. These entities provide expertise, solutions, programs and professionals to support digital transformation and innovation among SMEs and public institutions in the health and manufacturing sectors.