On May 12, in Bucharest, ANIS International Summit 2026 brought together IT industry leaders, public sector representatives, and international experts for a series of discussions focused on the future of Romania’s digital competitiveness under the theme “From Scale to Innovation: Romania’s Next Competitive Edge”.

The event addressed the challenges that will shape the next decade for Romania’s technology ecosystem, from innovation and AI adoption to cybersecurity, compliance, and the development of resilient digital infrastructures. The discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in strengthening competitiveness and digital resilience in an increasingly complex European landscape.

Innovation and digitalization, increasingly important for the IT industry

During ANIS International Summit 2026, a study on innovation in Romania’s IT&C industry and the sector’s potential impact on the economy in the coming years was presented for the first time.

The data presented showed that the IT&C industry already contributes approximately 8% to Romania’s added economic value and generates a turnover of around EUR 24 billion. At the same time, the study highlighted that the industry’s growth rate could slow down without continued investment in innovation, digitalization, and research.

Tiberiu Baraboi, alongside representatives of DNSC, NCC Romania, and the ANIS Cyber Task Force, highlighted that the Cyber Resilience Act should not be viewed solely as a compliance obligation, but as a necessary step toward strengthening the digital ecosystem and increasing companies’ competitiveness on the European market.

The discussions focused on the challenges generated by CRA implementation, from technical standards and compliance mechanisms to the need for real monitoring, detection, testing, and security assessment capabilities for digital products. In this context, the CEO of Expertware emphasized the importance of developing and adopting cybersecurity solutions built in Romania, capable of supporting digital resilience and securing infrastructures in line with European requirements.

One of the key messages of the discussion was that Romania already has the skills, ideas, and access to European funding, but needs stronger coordination, investment, and collaboration between government, industry, and the research sector to turn technology into real economic value.