The European Innovation Scoreboard 2025 is out \u2013 and once again, Romania finds itself near the bottom of the EU rankings across most indicators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The one bright spot?
\nWe\u2019ve got excellent access to high-speed internet.
\nSo at least we\u2019re lagging... fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But beyond headlines and rankings, the real story lies in the nuance. The data shows an ecosystem where both strengths and systemic weaknesses coexist. One where potential exists \u2013 but it\u2019s still disconnected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Romania at a crossroads<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re in a strange place. On one hand, Romania has above-average entrepreneurship rates compared to the EU \u2013 proof that people want to build, take risks, and innovate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other, we face structural barriers: With the next EU framework for research and innovation (FP10) already in draft, Romania urgently needs to rethink its approach. Strengthening SME engagement, building innovation capacity, and aligning with EU priorities is not just important \u2013 it\u2019s essential if we want a meaningful seat at the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even more concerning? Five out of Romania\u2019s eight development regions are among the seven worst-performing in the entire European scoreboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where are we falling behind?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Year after year, Romania underperforms in key areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And more alarmingly, since 2024 we\u2019ve seen steady declines in some of the most critical innovation metrics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 fewer sales from market or firm-level innovation Weak spots can become leverage points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This isn\u2019t just about scoreboard positions \u2013 it\u2019s about identifying the pressure points where targeted action is both needed and possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why Tech Connect \u2013 the Technology Transfer Festival was created: as a joint action platform for Romania\u2019s innovation ecosystem. A space where public authorities, universities, research centers, companies and support organizations can align efforts to turn potential into real results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Initiated by Iceberg+ together with national and European partners, the festival is part of a broader set of initiatives focused on: What we\u2019re doing \u2013 and who with<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Across the networks and programs we help shape, we\u2019re working directly on the indicators that can shift Romania\u2019s performance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re not doing this alone. We\u2019re part of a wider ecosystem that includes:\nEIT Community RIS Hub Romania, EIT Urban Mobility, EIT Manufacturing, InnoEnergy, Enterprise Europe Network, ROStartup, and RoDIH \u2013 all working toward transforming how innovation happens in Romania and the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What needs to happen next?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What we do works \u2013 but it\u2019s not enough. So here\u2019s our open question to the community:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who else needs to step in? Write to us. Join us at Tech Connect. Be part of the conversation. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" European Innovation Scoreboard 2025 a fost publicat \u2013 iar concluziile nu sunt deloc surprinz\u0103toare: Rom\u00e2nia r\u0103m\u00e2ne aproape de coada clasamentului european pe majoritatea indicatorilor de inovare. Singurul punct luminos?Avem acces excelent la internet de mare vitez\u0103.Cu alte cuvinte, r\u0103m\u00e2nem \u00een urm\u0103… rapid. Dar dincolo de titluri \u0219i clasamente, povestea adev\u0103rat\u0103 e mai nuan\u021bat\u0103. Datele arat\u0103 un […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fara-categorie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/techconnectfestival.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/techconnectfestival.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/techconnectfestival.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techconnectfestival.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techconnectfestival.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1125"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/techconnectfestival.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1296,"href":"https:\/\/techconnectfestival.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1125\/revisions\/1296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/techconnectfestival.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techconnectfestival.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techconnectfestival.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u2013 a wide gap between local and foreign investment
\n\u2013 limited participation in Horizon Europe
\n\u2013 and very few SMEs embracing innovation or collaboration as part of their growth strategy<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\u2013 declining venture capital investment
\n\u2013 weakening collaboration among SMEs<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u2013 strengthening SME innovation capacity
\n\u2013 bridging the gap between research and industry
\n\u2013 improving access to funding and venture capital
\n\u2013 building strategic infrastructure for technology transfer<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\nThe data makes it clear: we need to scale together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWhich institutions, companies or communities could \u2013 and should \u2013 play a bigger role in boosting Romania\u2019s innovation performance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nBecause transforming an innovation ecosystem isn\u2019t a solo sprint.
\nIt\u2019s a collective race.
\nAnd we\u2019re already on the track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n