Oana Radu on Stage at IQ Digital Summit Constanța
I was honored to take part in the IQ Digital Summit Constanța, an event that brought together visionary minds, local tech pioneers, and bold startup builders. The summit is part of the IQ Digital concept powered by Upgrade 100 and George – the first intelligent banking platform by BCR, with the mission to accelerate Romania’s digital transformation.
In an interesting panel moderated by Marian Hurducaș, I joined Teodora Moraru (AdminTools.io & Ambasada.pro), George Farăuanu (Start-up Constanța), and Mihai Bocai (Evonomix & Flaminjoy) to talk about innovation, local entrepreneurship, and what real digitalization looks like, beyond buzzwords.
From my position as Manager of CITYINNOHUB—the European Digital Innovation Hub in South-East Romania, I shared a ground-level perspective on what it takes to truly support SMEs and public institutions in their digital journey. Technology alone is not enough. Digital transformation requires mindset change, new skills, and institutional capacity.
“The future is here, but it’s not evenly distributed. Romania shows great innovation potential, especially when we look at the ratio of input to output in the Global Innovation Index. We generate a lot, despite limited investment.”
— Oana Radu
I highlighted examples such as the AI-based solution for kindergarten enrollment developed in Constanța, where parents now complete in 5 minutes a task that used to take hours. Or our digital prototypes in education and tourism, proof that public-private collaboration works, when guided by clear needs and strategic focus.
But technology adoption remains a challenge. Many have access to tools, yet they don’t use them effectively, not even in education or administration. That’s where hubs like CITYINNOHUB come in: bridging the gap between innovation and real-life implementation, providing training, testing, and guidance.
“People often have the technology, but they don’t apply it in their daily work. Or worse: they don’t use it in learning processes.”
— Oana Radu
The IQ Digital stage was more than a panel, it was a manifesto. We discussed why Constanța doesn’t need to be the next Silicon Valley. Instead, it can be an authentic innovation ecosystem, rooted in local strengths, driven by collaboration, and open to the world.
From lessons learned through failure to 68 product pivots, from stealth-mode startups to scaling from Las Vegas, the stories shared by fellow panelists were raw, real, and inspiring. Together, we offered a snapshot of a tech community that does more than dream, it builds.
I am grateful for the opportunity to represent CITYINNOHUB and share our mission: to make digital transformation a reality, not just a policy goal. Thank you, IQ Digital and Upgrade 100, for creating a platform that connects leaders, founders, and changemakers with one common purpose: shaping the future through smart, inclusive innovation.