Improving Digital Infrastructure: 6 Strategies by Romania
Romania is undergoing a significant digital transformation, with various sectors embracing digitalisation. This shift is evident in cities and rural areas, where improved internet connectivity is becoming the norm.
One of the key initiatives driving this transformation is the Black Sea AI Gigafactory, located in Cernavoda and Doicesti. The project aims to install over 100,000 AI accelerators, positioning Romania as a strategic hub for high-performance computing. Leveraging nuclear power and advanced digital infrastructure, the project offers a sustainable energy solution.
Another significant initiative is the focus on enhancing national digital connectivity. The Ministry of Education and Research, the Authority for the Digitisation of Romania, and ANCOM are working together to meet the EU's Gigabit Society 2025 and Digital Decade 2030 targets.
Raiffeisen Bank is also accelerating its digitalization, with a focus on AI in software development and sustainable financing. The bank aims to reorganise its IT structure into data, core IT, and IT delivery areas, with a goal of having 80% of its applications in the cloud by 2025.
Romania's €5 billion plan for digitalization and AI is aimed at positioning the country as a digital hub for smart cities and energy transition. This investment will focus on sectors like fintech, cybersecurity, and IoT.
The digital transformation of the Ministry of Health is another significant initiative. The objective is to simplify administrative procedures and improve work processes through an Integrated Information System. This forms part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to modernise the healthcare system.
Romania is also focusing on enhanced cybersecurity measures, emphasising staff training, software updates, and creating a culture that values digital safety as basic hygiene.
Mid-sized cities in Romania are establishing tech hubs for developers, designers, and founders, providing them with space and mentorship to develop innovative solutions.
Remote learning is becoming common in Romanian schools, with some students joining classes remotely and teachers using digital tools. Essential services are also moving online, enabling families to stream lessons without disruption, remote workers to take more calls, and local businesses to compete with those in bigger markets.
More agencies in Romania are offering simplified digital pathways for bill payments, document renewals, and status checks of requests, with the national government financing digitalization projects worth 100m EUR. In some Romanian cities, traffic lights adjust in real time based on the flow of cars, waste bins alert crews when they're full, and public transport apps are becoming useful.
These changes are part of a series of initiatives driving Romania's digital transformation. As awareness of data privacy increases, with some people seeking out VPN services during heavy shopping seasons to protect their browsing, it is clear that Romania is embracing the digital age with open arms.
- Raiffeisen Bank's focus on AI in software development and sustainable financing, along with its plan to reorganize its IT structure, represents a significant contribution to Romania's digital transformation in the realm of finance and technology.
- The Ministry of Education and Research, the Authority for the Digitisation of Romania, and ANCOM's collaborative efforts to enhance national digital connectivity, in line with the EU's Gigabit Society 2025 and Digital Decade 2030 targets, indicate a strong commitment towards education-and-self-development in the digital age.
