ICT Regional Cluster

The Association “Regional Cluster for Information and Communication Technology – West Region Romania” was established on July 1st 2011, following the initiative of 26 founding members, public and private organizations in the regional ICT sector, namely: county councils and city halls, universities, enterprises of different sizes, Romanian and multinational, business support structures.

VISION: The Regional ICT Cluster - West Region Romania was setup with the aim of promoting and supporting the regional ICT enterprises in becoming global market players, with their own products, under a strong regional brand.

This vision is supported by the following specific objectives of the cluster:

· Dynamic evolution of the ICT regional industry from trade and services to the development of own products and consultancy
· Consolidating the ICT regional industry by developing research centers and stimulating the increase of the products' added value
· An integrated education offer with real time update from the needs of regional ICT business environment
· Maintain the ICT human resources in West Region Romania
· Create a favorable regional context for ICT business, prioritize the public investments in the sector and attract new resources and investments in the region

This initiative of West Regional Development Agency is a result of the Regional Innovation Strategy 2009-2013 and is part of the activities and projects through which West RDA supports the strategic sectors of West Region.

ICT Regional Cluster - four clover structure

Public Authorities and Organisations

Businesses

Through its members, the ICT Regional Cluster integrate the whole set of competences for institutional consolidation – public sector investments, highly qualified human resources development, research&development capabilities, institutional framework for cooperation and technological expertise within the company members - multinationals with tradition, SMEs in continous growth, as well as new-born companies, with tendencies for highly specialised services based on cutting-edge technologies.

With a cumulated turnover of 4 billion Euros, în 2012, the companies within ICT Cluster account foro ver 75 % of the overall turnover of the ICT sector in West Region

History

An ample procees of consultations with regional stakeholders between 2007 and 2010 paved the way towards formalizing cooperation platform in ICT field. This dyanimc was facilitated by West Regional Development Agency, as part of the implementation of Regional Innovation Strategy   2005 – 2008 and 2009 – 2013, aiming to capitalize on the added value characterizing strategic economic sectors within West Region. The strategic relevance of ICT in West Region is substantiated by positive growth trand, significant contribution to regional economy, high added value, innovation opportunities and major role in increasing competitiveness wide range of economic and social areas.

2014

In 2014 ICT regional Cluster initiated a new project for development of an Excellence Center in Data Analytics in West Region to serve as a joint Research – Development – Innovation platform. The concept integrates multiple components including: public service delivery based on processing of high data volumes, development of innovative products, including multidisciplinary, using data analytics technologies and delivery of data science and big data training courses.

2013

In March 13th 2013 members of ICT regional Cluster met the members of the ERNACT – European Regional Network for the Application of Communication Technologies to discuss topics of interest in ICT and collaboration opportunities. In 3 – 4 April, ICT Regional Cluster participated in the First Edition of the Regional Innovation Fair both in the Innovative Products Exhibition and the InnoMatch Conference, where the members of the Board of Directors and the President of the Advisory Board presided and moderated the panel dedicated to ICT.

2012

In 2012 members of the IOCT regional Clusters met repeatedly to define its short and medium term goals, resulting in the Strategy for the Development of an ICT Competitive Pol in West Region. The priority areas include creation of common infrastructure, conducting joint Research & Development, development of training modules specific to ITC sector, both technical and business related, and consolidation of ICT Regional Cluster and sector in West Region visibility at international level.

2011

The meeting for the creation of the ICT Regional Cluster was held in April 21st 2011 when 26 founding members established its strategic objectives, signed the articles of association and elected members of the Board of Directors and Advisory Board.

2010

Two infrastructure projects where added to the strategic project portfolio of the Timişoara Growth Pole, subsequently funded through structural funds Regional Operational Program for 2007 – 2013: „Multifunctional County Center for Businesses – Timişoara”, initiated by Timiş County Council with the aim to provide IT&C companies with incubation, business support and start-ups assistance services. ”Regional ICT Business and Innovation   Infrastructure – Incuboxx”, initiated by Timişoara City Hall, which will provide services for product development and marketing.

2009

West RDA conducted a study with the goal to diagnose characteristics and challanges of the ICT sector in West Region, analizying the profiles of businesses, workforce dynamics and level of appreciation of the factors influencing medium-term sector development. The results of anlysis demonstrate growth tendency, especialy interms of diversification of services especially from consultancy to clinet oriented services and development of own products. The study also emphasizes demand for support services to enhance RDI.

2008

DigiVest concept is designed with the aim to stream interoperability at Regional level through systematic integrated digitization into: Regional Inteligent Databases and unified data flows directed to citizen (E-citizen and E-givernment platforms) Connected Platforms build on modern hardware, communications and software infrastructures

2008

Tehimpuls Regional Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer developed, employing KPMG expertise, a master plan for creating an Excellence IT&C Pole within which a mix of services to be operated by an IT&C Cluster were designed : Studies and sector analyses Colaborative Projects Know-how and technology transfer Marketing, match-making and brokering Development of inovative IT&C applications Support services for start-ups & spin-offs Provide training and consultancy services Facilitate acces to financing

2007

West RDA organizes the first consultation session using goal oriented project planning method. The interest for association is raised by common intersts identified: Develop innovative own products Improve public services through IT&C Build IT&C state-of-the-art infrastructures Design support services for IT&C community

A common vision for IT&C in West Region

Stakeholders’ readiness to associate in boosting regional IT&C realm lay in acknowledging joint action as means to stir up and amplify growth and to adapt rapidly to change and trends in IT&C. Furthermore, interest in making new investments, aquire new competences and put in resources to generate innovative products, services and solutions to boost Region’s economy as a whole and incraese quality of llife is rapidly evolving. Combining all these elements underlie the importance of paradigm shift in West Region’s IT&C community.

The steps undertook towards shaping a common vision materialized on November 24th 2010 when regional IT&C stakeholders (local public authorities, academic, academic and reasearch organizations, business support entities) gathered to discuss the opportunity to creat an IT&C Cluster in West Region. Propensity to adhere to the new structure, to develop colaborative projects and to share resources and knowledge marked this event as milestone in the process of building West Region’s IT&C Cluster.

Regional ICT Cluster was established on Aprili 21st 2011 when 26 founding members signed the Artciles of Association şi Statues of Articles, and voted organizational structure and representaives in the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors.

Management

Advisory Board

President - Varujan Pambuccian, member of the IT Committee assisting the Romanian Parliament Deputy Chamber, Professor at Politehnica University Bucharest
Dan Bedros – Member, former President and General Director at Alcatel Romania, former Vice-President of Alcatel-Lucent for South-East Europe, President of Strategic Board of Thales Romania
Virgil Marton – Member, former Strategic Unit Coordinator at HP, former telecommunications responsible for Europe at Lucent
Radu Georgescu – Member, Chairman of the Board of Axigen/GECAD Technologies, Avangate, GECAD NET and Director of the Board for GECAD ePayment
Silviu Hotăran – Member, former General Manager at Microsoft Romania, former General Manager at Microsoft South-East Europe and former General Manager at CIEL Romania
President of the Regional Development Board of West Region
The Mayor of Timisoara

Strategy

ICT Cluster elaborated its Development Strategy for 2012 – 2020 horizon with the overall objective to turn West Region’s ICT sector into an ICT Competitiveness Pole by capitalizing and consolidating the existing capacities and generate innovative projects and products through which the ICT potential is exploited towards increasing overall productivity of business and improving public sector processes.

Specific Objectives