Research and innovation are the fundamental pillars of sustainable economic growth, internal stability, and Romania’s affirmation on the European and international stage, said Andrei Alexandru, president of the National Authority for Research, at the launch event of the Romanian Artificial Intelligence Hub (HRIA), organized at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest.
According to the official, Romania has overcome a major obstacle in research funding and is now at a turning point, where its strategic vision and execution capacity will be tested by concrete opportunities, supported by billions of euros in funding.
A coherent strategy, with legislative steps and clear directions for action
Andrei Alexandru pointed out that Romania has adopted a series of strategic and legislative instruments over the past two years that outline a clear research policy converging with European priorities: a national strategy for research, development, and innovation; dedicated strategies for artificial intelligence and quantum technologies; and a new legislative framework that includes Law No. 25/2023 — aimed at reducing institutional fragmentation — and Law No. 183/2024 — which regulates the status of researchers in accordance with the European Charter for Researchers.
More important than the mere existence of these documents is the fact that they have made it possible to unblock an essential conditionality required by the European Commission since 2019, Andrei Alexandru pointed out. This achievement has led to the activation of three major cohesion programs — digitalization, health, and regional development — with a total budget of over 8 billion euros.
Centers of excellence and competence with results-oriented funding
One of the most relevant components for the future of the energy industry is the launch of the national competition for centers of excellence — with a budget of 320 million euros. These centers will cover topics such as digitalization, space, civil and societal security — all areas with a direct impact on the energy transition and critical infrastructure.
At the same time, Romania is investing through the NRRP in competence centers focused on the five missions of Horizon Europe, two of which are particularly relevant to the energy industry: Mission 1 — Adapting to climate change, including transforming societies for climate resilience, and Mission 4 — Climate-neutral and smart cities.
For energy companies that want to invest in technology partnerships, access competitive funds, or develop their own R&D capabilities, these priorities bring new opportunities: they can choose more efficient partners, influence the research agenda, and contribute to projects that bring both economic and societal value.
With European funding, research, digitization, and innovation become active economic policy tools that can be integrated into companies’ development plans, whether we are talking about digital twins for smart grids, the integration of AI into control systems, innovation in batteries, or energy cybersecurity.
Industrial players and researchers are called upon to join this collective effort so that innovation does not remain confined to laboratories but becomes part of a new, resilient, sustainable, and high-performing economic model. Romania now has the framework, the funds, and the direction. Implementation is next.
HRIA – a flagship project of the strategic direction on AI
The launch of HRIA highlighted the mobilization of some of Romania’s most powerful research organizations (Politehnica Bucharest, as well as university centers in Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Iași) around a clear goal: the development of expertise and infrastructure in artificial intelligence, an area defined as a priority by government decision. At the same time, HRIA illustrates a new model of cooperation between public research and industry, in which technology transfer to the economy is no longer optional, but a condition for funding.
And for companies active in the energy sector, new and interesting perspectives are opening up: from optimization algorithms for network operation to AI applied in predictive maintenance, storage management, or the integration of renewable sources. It is time for companies in the field to connect to this emerging infrastructure and play an active role in the development and application of local AI solutions. Players such as Safetech Innovations and BEIA Consult International are part of the HRIA ecosystem, with projects for monitoring critical infrastructure installations and advanced cybersecurity solutions.
