The National Institute for Research & Development in Informatics - ICI Bucharest’s Post

ICI Bucharest participated in CyberCon Romania 2025, a cybersecurity conference held on 20-21 November 2025 by the Romanian Association for Information Security Assurance (RAISA) and the European Commission Representation in Romania, with the support of the US Embassy, as part of the European Cybersecurity Month. The event brought together specialists, public institutions, international organisations and industry representatives to analyse emerging trends, challenges and solutions in the field. ICI Bucharest presented the current development directions in cybersecurity, highlighting the central role of artificial intelligence in detecting, preventing, and managing advanced threats. Thus, it was emphasised that the rapid evolution of the digital environment and the increasing sophistication of attacks require the adoption of technologies capable of identifying complex patterns, optimising operational responses and strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructures. AI contributes to improving reaction times and maintaining defence mechanisms, being a fundamental tool in the current context. During the discussions, it was highlighted that a significant number of companies are experiencing difficulties identifying personnel specialised in cybersecurity, and that a large proportion of employees involved in specific activities lack formal training. Thus, it becomes essential to consolidate educational programs, update university curricula and develop continuous training initiatives, adapted to new types of threats. CyberCon Romania 2025 addressed topics such as the evolution of European legislation in the field of cybersecurity, the importance of cooperation between institutions, academia and industry, the need for interoperability at the level of member states, the transformations generated by emerging technologies, such as generative AI, deepfake or quantum computing, as well as the need to strengthen defense capabilities in the media and the financial sector.

ICI Bucharest participated on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, in the official launch event of the IMM DIGITAL INDEX, the first national tool for monitoring the digital performance of small and medium-sized enterprises in Romania, developed by the National Council of Small and Medium-Sized Private Enterprises in Romania (CNIPMMR - IMM România). The event brought together decision-makers from public administration, the business environment, the innovation ecosystem, and academia, highlighting the essential role of digitalization in boosting economic competitiveness, institutional efficiency, and social inclusion. The IMM DIGITAL INDEX is designed as a complementary tool to DESI, adapted to Romania's economic and institutional context, and provides a detailed overview of the level of digitalization of SMEs in Romania. The index analyzes indicators such as online presence and social media use, e-commerce adoption, IT infrastructure, the use of digital solutions in internal processes (finance, compliance, marketing, management, reporting), the digital skills of human resources, and digital interaction with public institutions. During the event, Adrian-Victor Vevera, General Director of ICI Bucharest, emphasized the importance of building robust digital ecosystems through close cooperation between public institutions, the business sector, and academia: “RO AI Factory is a project developed within a complex consortium coordinated by ICI Bucharest, bringing together relevant stakeholders from academia, research, and the innovation ecosystem, including University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, the Technical University of Cluj Napoca, the National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Romanian Academy (RACAI), the Transilvania IT Cluster, the Romanian Digital Innovation Hubs Association, alongside CNIPMMR. The involvement of the National Council of Small and Medium-Sized Private Enterprises in Romania is essential for anchoring the initiative in the realities and needs of SMEs, ensuring a direct connection with the business environment, while ICI Bucharest, as the hosting entity, provides the technological, institutional, and coordination framework necessary for the development and responsible use of emerging technologies.” More information here: https://lnkd.in/ditX7VcR

 ICI Bucharest participated in the official opening of the 37th edition of the national project “Together we protect Romania: Bucharest Leaders’ Summit – United for a Better World”, an event organized by the Media Group MediaUno, in partnership with the National Institute of Statistics - Romania, the Department for Sustainable Development (Dezvoltare Durabilă) and the MediaUno Association. The summit takes place between May 4 and June 4, 2026 and brings together over 20 thematic conferences dedicated to essential areas for Romania’s development, such as security, health, energy, education, research and innovation, sustainable development, digitalization and cybersecurity. The official opening took place at Victoria Palace, in the presence of representatives of public administration, academia, the economic sector and strategic institutions. ICI Bucharest was represented by Dr. Eng. Adrian-Victor Vevera, General Director, who emphasized the importance of understanding and using technology responsibly in the current context. In his speech, the General Director of ICI Bucharest spoke about the role of artificial intelligence in society, the opportunities created by RO AI Factory, the first artificial intelligence factory in Romania, as well as the intention to open the AI ecosystem to the public, private, academic and research environment: “The theme “Together we protect Romania” reminds us that technology must be understood and used responsibly, for the benefit of people. Romania, through RO AI Factory, is developing a national artificial intelligence ecosystem open to the public, private, academic, and research communities. Artificial intelligence is both an opportunity and a challenge: it must support efficiency and analytical capacity, without replacing the responsibility of human decision-making”, stated Dr. Eng. Adrian-Victor Vevera, General Director of ICI Bucharest. For more information, we invite you to follow this link: https://lnkd.in/d_ckaJQB

ICI Bucharest contributed to the development of the policy brief published by Institutul European din România - European Institute of Romania (IER): “RO AI Factory and the Black Sea Gigafactory: Strategic Pillars for Romania’s Digital Sovereignty.” The paper examines the role of RO AI Factory in the context of European policies on artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, with a focus on supporting SMEs and strengthening Romania’s digital sovereignty. The study is available in Romanian here: https://lnkd.in/dDi-7Q_C

ICI Bucharest was present at the event "Digital Cooperation: AI and Cybersecurity", held on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, and organised by the New Strategy Center, in partnership with ROTA (Association for the Promotion of Economic and Cultural Exchanges with Taiwan). The event brought together experts from Romania and Taiwan to analyse current challenges in cybersecurity, the semiconductor industry, and artificial intelligence. The discussions highlighted the importance of international cooperation in a period in which information warfare and technological competition shape the security architecture at the European and global levels. Victor Vevera, General Director of ICI Bucharest, participated as a speaker and highlighted the need to strengthen international partnerships in the fields of AI and cybersecurity, emphasising that only through collaboration and exchange of expertise can effective mechanisms for protection and technological innovation be developed: “Digital cooperation is one of the essential pillars of security and technological progress in the current era. The exchange of best practices, technical dialogue and strategic cooperation are indispensable tools for strengthening digital resilience and for developing protection systems adapted to new technological realities. At ICI Bucharest, we are convinced that innovation can only advance through openness, collaboration and shared responsibility.” The participants highlighted Romania’s potential to integrate into global value chains by strengthening cooperation in microelectronics, cybersecurity, cloud computing and the development of solutions based on artificial intelligence. At the same time, the need for a stronger connection between education, research, and industry was highlighted to build a competitive, innovative ecosystem in the region.

ICI Bucharest participated in the conference “The Age of A.I.: Innovating Business and Society”, held at the National Bank of Romania, an event dedicated to exploring how artificial intelligence is redefining the business environment, critical infrastructure and social life in the digital age. Organised by CIO Council Romania, the event brought together decision-makers from the public and private sectors, researchers, investors, and innovators from Central and Eastern Europe to outline a strategic vision for how AI is transforming the global economy and social systems. At the opening of the conference, Dr. eng. Victor Vevera, General Director of ICI Bucharest, gave the presentation “AI FACTORY in Romania”, underlining the institute’s role in developing a national infrastructure dedicated to research and application of artificial intelligence, based on innovation, ethics and security: “Artificial intelligence is the engine of a new era of progress. Through AI FACTORY, ICI Bucharest contributes to building a national ecosystem that emphasises responsibility, trust and performance. Our objective is to contribute to a competitive and secure digital Romania, capable of harnessing the potential of AI for the benefit of citizens and the economy.” The “The Age of A.I.” conference highlighted the main directions through which AI is shaping the future: AI in Finance and Risk Management, AI in Critical Infrastructures and Energy, Generative AI for Enterprise, AI and Cybersecurity, and AI and the Future of Work.

ICI Bucharest is a partner of the Digital Romania Forum, an event organized by Financial Intelligence, with the support of The Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate. The event will take place on June 16, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM, at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, and will also be broadcast online on https://lnkd.in/eTeBx9x, on the Financial Intelligence Facebook page and on the Financial Intelligence YouTube channel. Now in its 8th edition, the forum brings together representatives of the IT&C sector, but also of other industries: officials of state authorities, politicians, ambassadors, business people, top management of companies from fields such as cybersecurity, technology, energy, banks, capital market, telecom, industry, defense, mass media and other specialists in the field. The agenda includes topics relevant to Romania, from digital transformation and industry development in the context of new technologies, to government cloud governance, digital services offered by the state, 5G technology, cybersecurity in the era of artificial intelligence, the competitiveness of Romanian companies and the digitalization of areas such as energy, health, education and agriculture, as well as Romania's preparation for digital crises. For registration and additional details, we invite you to access the event page: https://lnkd.in/djUb5jUW

Cooperation is very important and Cloud Security Alliance Romania Official (chapter of Cloud Security Alliance) understands to support actions that bring together experts who can contribute to strengthening collaborations. Thus, the call launched by Représentation de l'OIF pour l'Europe centrale et orientale was answered, in which Anca Săvoiu was part of the Organizing Team and, as usual, our colleague Adrian Liviu Arsene was actively involved in creating bridges for future positive joint projects within OIF and beyond, of course. Several important companies participated in the event and presented points of view that helped shape the overall picture regarding heterogeneous realities. CYSCOE - Cyber Security Cluster of Excellence, ProDefence, Aexia, The National Institute for Research & Development in Informatics - ICI Bucharest, Digitalee, Solvit Networks Serbia, Slavia Pharm, Expert Software, ZumIT, Infinite IT Solutions, Ventivo Group, Novastea, Zitec, Up România, Bondoc și Asociații SCA, Expand Cyber, AC HELCOR Pharmaceutical Company, Yalos Solutions SRL, KUBIS, DSTrust, Bento - Intellectually Curious, National Company "UNIFARM" SA. EO Data Center, CorLab Tech, COGEPHA | Healthcare Logistics, Clear Data, BSD Management Moldova, Dita Estfarm, Association of Medicine Manufacturers from Moldova, Feel IT Services, Horizon For Services, KONČAR Group, TIS Farmaceutic, Afric Phar and many others... #OIF #CSA #CSA_RO #CSA_Romnia #companies #research #technology #organisations #highereducation #institutions #business #associations #consultancies #civilsociety #government #public #financial #social

Honoured to have Mr. Dragos - Cristian VLAD, President of the Autoritatea pentru Digitalizarea României (ADR), joining us at CRA EUROPE 2026 – Cyber Resilience in Action. His perspective on digital transformation and the alignment between national digital policies and the Cyber Resilience Act will be essential for this discussion. Looking forward to a strong Executive Panel on what CRA implementation means in practice for SMEs and public authorities.

The first day of Digital Innovation Summit Bucharest - DISB 2026 brought together today, at the Palace of Parliament, representatives of government institutions, regulatory authorities, academia, and international organizations, within the framework of the 9th edition of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Forum (CIP Forum). The central theme of the discussions was “Dual-Use Innovation for Resilient Critical Infrastructure,” with a focus on the role of emerging technologies in strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructures. The event was opened by Adrian-Victor Vevera, General Director of the National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics – ICI Bucharest, the organizer of the summit, who highlighted the importance of institutional cooperation and international dialogue in the context of accelerating digital transformation and increasing security challenges. During the inaugural session, official messages were delivered by representatives of Romania’s central institutions, regulatory authorities, and international organizations. The interventions emphasized the importance of strengthening states’ response capacity to technological and security risks, as well as the need to develop public policies adapted to rapid technological developments. More information about the first day of the event here: https://lnkd.in/dzcj8wHR