Romania must be prepared for change (“change ready”), for the use of artificial intelligence (“AI ready”), and for safeguarding the role of people (“human ready”). However, overregulation, protection through tariffs, and the imposition of minimum prices are fundamentally flawed solutions, stated Dan Stratan, CEO and founder of the RCI Holding group.
“I believe that overregulation and protection through tariffs or minimum prices is a fundamentally flawed approach, at least in the medium and long term. What we need to consider [at the European level] are ways to stimulate innovation and keep pace with the two global giants, the United States and China, in terms of technological advancement,” said Stratan at the Energy Strategy Summit 2026, organized by Energynomics.
Referring to Romania, he called for the urgent introduction of the “regulatory sandbox” concept—a controlled environment in which new technologies evolve in parallel with regulation, rather than following it, as is the case in Dubai, Singapore, South Korea, and the UK.
There is already a European directive on artificial intelligence that requires the implementation of such mechanisms in member states starting August 1, and Stratan announced that his group is already negotiating with two Romanian authorities to test the concept, both in financial services and in energy.
One of the main challenges is access to capital for startups and technology companies, an area in which Romania lacks venture capital funds, and the CISD approval required for certain investments can take eight to nine months. This timeframe is incompatible with the pace at which international venture capitalists operate. Stratan warned that the gap between the speed of technological evolution and the institutional pace of regulation risks turning systemic failures into mere political arguments about “difficult legacies.”
“Technology is evolving at a pace far superior to the pace at which we regulate. As long as this gap is not recognized and addressed in a meaningful way, we will always explain our failures by saying, ‘it wasn’t in my mandate,’” Stratan added.
Energy Strategy Summit 2026 was organised by Energynomics, with the support of our partners: Elektra Renewable Support, 4P Renewables, ABB, Alive Capital, Atmoce, Baringa, BCR, Big Store, Capalo AI, CBRE Romania, Distribuție Energie Electrică România, Eastship, Distributie Oltenia parte din Evryo, Eaton Electric, Electrica Furnizare, Electroalfa, Electroprecizia, EnergoBit, Enery, Enexus, Eurowind, Evryo, Exim Banca Romaneasca, Hagag Energy, KStar, LONGi, MBK Power Energy, MET Romania Energy, Monsson Trading, Nextpower, OX2, Romgaz, Schraubram, Sigenergy, Softenerg WEBUS 4 ENERGY, Solar Today, Sunotec, TBEA, Think Blu Solution, Transelectrica, Waldevar Energy, WTW Romania. Coffee Break Partner Enerta. Lanyard Partner Monsson Operation. Beverage Partners Aqua Carpatica, Alexandrion. Digital Partner Imsol. Mobility Partner BlackCab.