A quick picture of the innovation ecosystem in Cluj-Napoca - Romania with an university focus

1. Dr. Ion-Gheorghe PETROVAI
Project Manager&CoFounder
DRIVE Program – Delft July 9 2020
Universities and innovation
- a transylvanian story-

2. June 23 2020

3. Where are we? In EU!Transylvania (ro)
Erdely (hu)
Siebenburgen (de)
Cluj (ro)
Kolozsvar (hu)
Klausenburg (de)
Napoca (latin)6 Mil+ inhabitants
500 k + inhabitants
Top IT&Industrial Center
Top Romanian Hospitals
Startup community
Bistritz

4. „Babes Bolyai” University
31K Students in 21 faculties
Largest and highest ranked
UMF - Medical University
7 K Students in 3 faculties
Highest ranked and proudest
Technical University
15 K Students in 12 Faculties
Motivated
Agronomical and Veterinary
University
6 K Students in 5 Faculties
Dynamic
BIG 4
+7 more

5. In the last 4 years
• Opening towards innovation
• Entrepreneurship Support
• FreshBlood HealthTech

6. Opening towards innovation
• Hackathons&innovathons
• „Innovation Labs” extended
• Technology Transfer Offices established
• OECD HEInnovate 2019 Report
People begin to believe

7. Student Entrepreneurial Societies/Entrepreneurial
Programs for Scientists
• Government competitive funding
• Low internal support, high variation
• Providing support, prizes and grants
ACAMED – Medical University Cluj-
Napoca
Technical University Cluj-Napoca
Babes Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca
Public Health Department

8. Helping innovators to grow their skills and projects
Helping organisations that aim to support innovators (inside/outside)
FreshBlood HealthTech
Training
Innovation at
UMF Cluj-Napoca
Octombrie 2017
www.asaih.ro

9. www.eithealth.eu
https://echalliance.com/ www.rohealth.ro
We are connected:

10. We help the evolution in the ecosystem
2019 2020
RIS Local Innovation
Competition for University
Innovation (75k/project)
2 4
Innostars Awards
(up to 25K/startup)
1 4
Funding 175+ K EUR 450+ K EUR
In Innostars Awards 4 of 15 projects are from Romania
In RIS Local Innovation Call 4 of 15 projects are from Romania
1 startup in Headstart, 1 startup in Bridgehead

11. 2012

12. Role of universities in Cluj ecosystem: Talent&EGO
“4 T”: Talents,
Technology, Trust and
Tolerance
Mr Emil BOC,
University Professor
Babes Bolyai University
Since 2004 Mayor of Cluj
Beware the Ivory Tower
https://www.themayor.eu/en/i-describe-cluj-napoca-with-4-letters-t-talents-
technology-trust-and-tolerance

14. Starship.eithealth.eu
Building people in 2017/2018

15. Building bridges/mindset in 2019
Cluj Hub
Student Startups in the
main amphiteater of UMF
Validation/need
finding with Roel

16. GIPIA – Interuniversity Group for
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Under Collaboration with:
- Cluj City Hall
- North West Developement Agency
- Transylvania IT CLuster
MIX THE STUDENTS – EITHealth Innovation Day 2018+2019+2020
MIX THE UNIVERSITY STAFF - 2020
Building bridges/mindset in 2020

17. Universities attitude towards collaboration:
- Medical University is training the Agronomy and Veterinary
University PhD in Entrepreneurship (no SAS available)
IMPROVING
- Universities invites FreshBlood HealthTech and other ecosystem
members to share opportunities and expertise (here SAS UTCN)
- „Babes Bolyai” University invites professionals that have less
academic credentials but have extensive practical expertise (Public
Health Students)

18. WHAT NEXT?...
2 MIL EUR/Program
300 Students Minimum
2% contribution
Submission until August
31st 2020

19. Conclusion:
G.I.P.I.A