RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Cluj Aims To Be European Capital of Innovation

The city of Cluj is running in the competition to become European Capital of Innovation 2020

Cluj Aims To Be European Capital of Innovation
Cluj Aims To Be European Capital of Innovation

, 20.03.2020, 14:26

The city of Cluj is running in the competition to become European Capital of Innovation 2020. Eligible are European cities with population above 100,000, and can apply with the deadline on June 23. In addition to increased visibility and support from European authorities, the winning city will also get an award of one million Euro. The cities that are shortlisted will get one hundred thousand Euro each. The announcement was made by the mayor of Cluj, Emil Boc.

He said that the decision was made this year to run for European Innovation Capital, and that winning was an unknown, but that the city had what it takes to be an able competitor. The mayor stated that they have the ecosystem for innovation, turning the city from industrial to knowledge industry based, and digital economy based. Boc said that this is reflected in present policies in areas such as public transportation, ecological initiatives, and public administration. as well as in budget contributions. His opinion is that these are examples of best practices that can move the map from west to east in terms of innovation.

The decision was made after the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Mariya Gabriel, announced this competition at the conference entitled StartUpCity Cluj-Napoca. She said that Cluj is an inspiration and that her presence was a form of support for several locally innovative ecosystems, support in order to show that cities are key players in this new economy of knowledge. In addition, she stressed that we have to face climate change, provide answers in terms of digitization, offer answers for challenges in terms of population, which is why when we have the triangle of education, research, and innovation provided there are good examples out there, such as the city of Cluj, we have an encouraging sign.

We asked the director of the Transilvania IT cluster, Bianca Muntean, one of the actors involved in the digital transformation of the city, about the projects that Clus is bringing to the table to win the contest:

“In the last two years, all our projects are oriented towards the concept of Wise City, because the concept of Smart City is believed to be obsolete, and here we are not talking only about technology, or turning public administration digital, but about all projects that improve quality of life for the citizens of Cluj-Napoca. We are talking about the digital development strategy of the city, which has the participation of several partners in our community. I am talking bout the two IT clusters in Cluj, the universities in the city, all under the coordination of City Hall.”

Digitization, with all its advantages, could paradoxically turn into a burden for the citizens, especially the older ones. Bianca Muntean told us that efforts are being made to familiarize them with new technologies, with no one left behind:

“We are talking about classes in using the technologies, because it is pointless to have an administration that offers digital solutions for paying taxes, for instance, if the citizens dont know they exist, or how to use them. To this end, the Transilvania IT cluster started a training program for seniors in our city, where they learn how to use these new technologies when interacting with public administration. To summarize, we are talking about a strategy of digital transformation of the city, of public administration, the technical solutions that the city makes available to citizens to make interaction easier. They can more easily track their applications, their payments for taxes, solutions for easily identifying available parking spaces, solutions for measuring air quality, solutions for mobility, solutions for participative budgeting.”

However, the modernization of the city is not for the sake of awards or international fame, but in the interest of citizens, Bianca Muntean underlined. Last year, the European Capital of Innovation was Nantes, and previously Amsterdam, Vienna, and Athens. Previously, however, the city of Cluj has been European Youth Capital and European City of Sport. If it manages to become European Capital of Innovation, it would be the first city in CEE to earn that distinction.

Sursa foto: pixabay.com
The Future Starts Today Friday, 18 October 2024

October, the European month of cybersecurity

The European Cyber Security Month is an annual campaign that promotes awareness and best practices in online cyber security, providing information on...

October, the European month of cybersecurity
Ana Aslan
The Future Starts Today Friday, 11 October 2024

The Pace of Aging

“Youth is about optimism, well-being, and a goal to fight for” – this is the creed that underpinned the work of Ana Aslan, one of...

The Pace of Aging
(foto: unsplash.com)
The Future Starts Today Friday, 04 October 2024

Major plan for the re-industrialization of Romania

For the first time in the last 35 years, a major plan for the re-industrialization of the country was announced in Romania. With a value of 3 billion...

Major plan for the re-industrialization of Romania
Kadri Simson (Photographer: Michel CHRISTEN Copyright: © European Union 2024 - Source : EP)
The Future Starts Today Friday, 20 September 2024

Energy for the future

    Over the past few years, the European Union has managed to withstand critical risks to its security of energy supply, regain control...

Energy for the future
The Future Starts Today Friday, 13 September 2024

Cyberspace vulnerabilities

More than 8.5 million computers running Windows software were affected by the world’s largest Internet outage in July this year. The figure...

Cyberspace vulnerabilities
The Future Starts Today Friday, 09 August 2024

Good Immunity as a Prevention Measure

Defined as the body’s ability to defend itself against viruses, bacteria and parasites, immunity plays a crucial role in maintaining health....

Good Immunity as a Prevention Measure
The Future Starts Today Friday, 02 August 2024

Disinformation Online

Based on seven key principles, UNESCO’s plan to combat the rampant spread of online disinformation and hate speech aims to protect the...

Disinformation Online
The Future Starts Today Friday, 19 July 2024

The increasingly sophisticated information warfare

The tools used in information warfare are becoming more sophisticated by the day, says professor Iulian...

The increasingly sophisticated information warfare

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company