International Summit - 2026

May 12^th 2026
Bucharest / Romania

From Scale to Innovation: Romania’s Next Competitive Edge

Accelerating the transition toward a more innovative and high-value ICT industry in Romania.

ANIS Gala

Seize this opportunity.

among

forward-thinkers, change-makers,

and trailblazers ready to supercharge your strategy.

Celebrate innovation at the

with other tech minds.

May 12^th 2026
09:00

Bucharest / Romania
JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel

Agenda

Grand Ballroom

Time

Happening

Details

Duration

09:00 – 09:30

Registration & Networking Coffee

Please ensure to arrive at least 15 minutes before de event

30 m

09:30 – 09:35

Opening & Welcome

Vitalie Cojocari, Journalist

5 m

SPEAKERS:

09:35 – 10:00

Special Keynotes
Keynotes

30 m

SPEAKERS:

10:00 – 10:45

ANIS Study Launch: Stimulating the transition to a more innovative ICT industry in Romania

30 m

SPEAKERS:

10:45 – 11:45

Panel I
Regulatory Check: When Policy Helps – And When It Holds Us Back

60 m

TOPIC:

Regulation can make or break innovation. This panel will explore how regulatory frameworks can either accelerate or hinder the growth of Romania’s ICT and innovation ecosystem. Discussions will focus on the importance of an innovation-friendly regulatory framework, supported by policies that incentivize investments into R&D and create a fertile ground for innovation. The central question that every policymaker and innovator needs to consider – how do we strike the right balance between enabling growth and ensuring accountability?

MODERATOR:

SPEAKERS:

11:45 – 12:15

Coffee Break

30 m

12:15 – 13:00

Fireside chat I
From Fast Followers to Innovation Leaders: Lessons from CEE

30 m

TOPIC:

This fireside chat brings together leading voices from Central and Eastern Europe to explore how countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine are accelerating their transition toward innovation-driven economies. Moving beyond general frameworks, the discussion will focus on concrete practices that have delivered results—how ecosystems are built, how collaboration is fostered, and how companies are supported in scaling innovation. The session offers a practical perspective on what works, what doesn’t, and what Romania can realistically adapt from regional peers.

MODERATOR:

SPEAKERS:

13:00 – 14:00

Panel II
Industry Reality Check: What It Actually Takes to Build Innovation

60 m

TOPIC:

Moving towards more innovation and value creation is an essential trend that will define not only the future of the IT&C industry as it transitions from outsourcing to more innovative business models, but of the overall economy and society. This session will dive into the real-world challenges companies face: building R&D capacity, fostering a culture of creativity, scaling breakthrough solutions and forming cross-industry partnerships. Participants will examine what it takes to create sustainable and competitive innovation in Romania’s ICT sector and how these strategies can ripple across the economy, shaping the future of work, business models, and society.

MODERATOR:

SPEAKERS:

14:00 – 15:00

Lunch & Networking

60 m

15:00 – 16:00

Panel III
AI as a Growth Multiplier - Powered by ADOBE

60 m

Powered by:

MODERATOR:

TOPIC:

Artificial Intelligence is more than a technology, it’s a growth engine. This panel will explore how AI can revolutionize industries, boost productivity or create entirely new business models. From practical applications to strategic adoption, discussions will center on how Romania can transform its talent pool, entrepreneurial spirit, and vibrant ICT ecosystem into a regional AI powerhouse, creating a tangible competitive edge for companies, public services, and the economy as a whole. Romania is at a crossroads: will we harness AI to lead, or watch others take the edge?

SPEAKERS:

16:00 – 16:30

Coffee Break

30 m

16:30 – 17:30

Panel IV
Securing the Digital Future

60 m

TOPIC:

The synergies between security and technology are stronger than ever before. As Romania accelerates digital transformation, cybersecurity becomes a cornerstone of trust, resilience, and sustainable growth. This panel will cover how public and private sectors can work together to protect critical infrastructure, secure data, and anticipate emerging threats to create a digital Romania where innovation and security go hand in hand.

MODERATOR:

SPEAKERS:

17:30 – 18:00

Closing Remarks

30 m

SPEAKERS:

18:00 – 19:00

Dinner & Networking

60 m

19:00 – 20:30

ANIS Awards Gala

1h 30m

Round Table

ROOM GALATI

Time

Happening

Details

Duration

13:00 – 14:00

Round Table I
Cyber Resilience Act - between compliance and opportunity

60 m

TOPIC:

How can new cybersecurity requirements be turned into a competitive advantage on the European market? This roundtable aims for a practical discussion on the implementation of the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and its impact on the local business environment. As technical standards and compliance frameworks are still taking shape, this roundtable will unpack both the challenges of navigating new requirements and the opportunities they unlock for Romanian companies. CRA is not only a new compliance obligation, but also a potential catalyst for increasing competitiveness on the European market, by enabling scale and access with compliant and secure products. The discussion will also address the steps needed to develop a national compliance ecosystem – from standards and infrastructure to testing, certification, and conformity assessment capacities, including the role of future Notified Bodies.

MODERATOR:

SPEAKERS:

15:00 – 16:00

Round Table II
Regional Innovation Ecosystems and Competitiveness: A Place-Based Approach to Romania’s Innovation Transition

60 m

Powered by:

TOPIC:

MODERATOR:

SPEAKERS:

16:30 – 17:30

Round Table III
Building Workforce AI Readiness in Rapidly Evolving Markets. Powered by ADOBE

60 m

Powered by:

TOPIC:

“Building Workforce AI Readiness in Rapidly Evolving Markets” is a round table focused on how organizations can quickly equip their workforce with the skills needed to adopt and effectively use AI in fast-changing business environments.
It highlights the urgency of closing the skills gap, embedding AI into everyday workflows, and building continuous upskilling systems so employees can adapt at the same pace as technological change.

MODERATOR:

SPEAKERS:

Speakers

Expect an exciting range of experience and views on stage.

Vlad Andriescu

Editor-In-Chief, Start-up.ro

Georgiana Andrei - Muntean

Commercial Director, Regina Maria

Andrei Avădanei

CEO BIT SENTINEL

Cristina Baghiu

Hub Coordinator at Digital innovation Zone, Digital Innovation Zone

Răzvan Bălan

Sr Software Architect Adobe Analytics Adobe Systems Romania

Daniel Barbu Ph.D

Director of EMEA Security at Adobe

Radu Burnete

Presidential Advisor, Presidential Administration

Ana Maria Busoniu

General Director - National Coordination Center NCC-RO

Simona Caraiman

Vice-Rector for IT&C at Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași

Paul Chiriță Ph.D.

Senior Director Creativity & Productivity Adobe Systems Romania

Vitalie Cojocari

Journalist, MC ANIS INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT

Mihnea Costoiu

Rector, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest

Ambrozie-Irineu Darău

Interim Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship, Tourism

Bianca Decu

Senior Manager in Cybersecurity, National Cybersecurity Directorate

Mihaela Dobre

Director of Program Management & Business Operations Adobe

Cătălina Dodu

Board Member, ANIS

Yasser El-Gammal

World Bank Country Manager for Romania and Hungary

Oana Gheorghiu

Interim Viceprime-minister, Romanian Government

Aurel-Cătălin Giulescu

President, Authority for Digitalization of Romania

Cătălin Grigorescu

Managing Partner, BPV Grigorescu Stefanică

Jaromir Hanzal

Executive Director, Association for Applied Research in IT (Czech Republic) & Board Member, DIGITALEUROPE

Bogdan Herea - Buzatu

Board Member Cluj IT Cluster

Octavian Ichim

CEO Schwarz Digits Romania

Daniel Ionescu

Senior Cybersecurity Manager - Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate (DNSC)

Lukasz Marek Mark

Senior Economist, World Bank

Mihai Matei

Vice President, ANIS

Cătălin Mihacea

Vice-president, Sibiu IT Cluster

Sorin Moldovan

State Secretary, Ministry of Defence

Bianca Muntean

Co-founder & Cluster Manager, Transilvania IT Cluster

Andrei Munteanu

Co-Founder & Programs Managing Director, Vest Ventures

Victor Negrescu

Vice-president, European Parliament

Cezara Panait

Board Member, ANIS

Dragoș Pîslaru

Interim Minister of Investments and European Projects

Pavel Popescu

Vicepresident, National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania (ANCOM)

Radu Postolache

ANIS President

Radu Puchiu

Technology & Society Program Director, Aspen Institute Romania

Marta Romaniak

IT Ukraine Association Ambassador, SVP Corporate Development @ Sigma Software Group

Andrei Rădoi

Board Member, ANIS

Andrei Savin

General Manager BRINEL | IQANTO

Adrian Seceleanu

Senior Editor Hi-Tech , Ziarul Financiar

Diana Sipos

Board Member, ANIS

Cosmin Stanciu

Aerospace & Defence Business Group Manager, Arobs

Mădălin Staniu

ANIS Task Force Cybersecurity Leader

Svetlana Stoilova

Lead Adviser, Digital Economy Working Group, BusinessEurope

Eva Rytter Sunesen

Co-Founder & Partner, Implement Consulting Group

Cristina Șerban

Director of Product Marketing, Bitdefender

Corina Vasile

Executive Director, ANIS

May 12^th 2026 / 09:00

Bucharest / Romania
JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel

From Scale to Innovation: Romania’s Next Competitive Edge

Accelerating the transition toward a more innovative and high-value ICT industry in Romania.

Join us at the Gala to honor the best-performing companies in the Romanian IT industry, along with their outstanding products, projects, and initiatives that made a mark in 2025.

Please choose one of the tickets and continue to register directly on the myconnector website:

ANIS International Summit

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