THE INNOVATION FORUM & AWARDS 2026 is where the Romanian economy’s fore leaders meet opportunity. Designed as a flagship event for the business and innovation landscape, the forum brings together leading companies, bold entrepreneurs, policymakers, and technology pioneers to explore the trends redefining Romania’s economic future.
THE DIPLOMAT-BUCHAREST organized the first edition of INNOVATION FORUM & AWARDS 2026 on June 18 at InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest. The series of events dedicated to innovation highlights the groundbreaking projects, emerging technologies, and strategic solutions that drive productivity, sustainability, and competitiveness across all major industries.
The recording of the event (Forum & Gala) can be visited here: Innovation Forum & Awards 2026 – powered by The Diplomat Bucharest
The event was supported by:
- PLATINUM PARTNERS: NXP Semiconductors, Auchan Romania
- GOLD PARTNERS: Infineon Technologies, ICI Bucharest, DS Smith
- PARTNERS: BMF Grup, VOIS Romania
- PARTNER INSTITUTIONS: British Romanian Chamber of Commerce BRCC, Concordia Employers’ Confederation, Ecoteca, ANIS – Employers’ Association of the Software and Services Industry, CERC – Coalition for the Circular Economy, Smart Energy Association, HENRO – Association of Electric Power Producers, ClujIT Cluster, ROFMA – Romanian Workplace and Facility Management Association, CCIFER – French Romanian Chamber of Commerce, Lovering & Partners
- MEDIA PARTNERS: Outsourcing Today, Automotive Today, Sustainability-Today, Financial Intelligence, Revista Economistul, Romania Durabila, Club Economic, Ziarul BURSA, Revista Piaţa
We thank The Jury Board:
- RADU PUCHIU, Technology & Society Program Director, Aspen Institute Romania
- ALEXANDRU MITROI, Senior Adviser, Invest Romania
- ANDREI KELEMEN, CEO Cluj IT Cluster
- ANDREI PARASCHIV, Consulting Partner, Deloitte Romania.
- ANDREI MIHAI CRĂCIUN, Head of Digital Transformation and Data Analysis department, West University of Timisoara
- YUGO NEUMORNI, CIO Council President
- CĂTĂLINA DODU, Partener, EMEIA Cybersecurity Defense Sector Leader and Global Technology Consulting Account leader for NATO, EY
- DANIEL ANGHEL, Country Managing Partner, PwC Romania
- EDUARD NAUM, Director, Advisory Technology, KPMG in Romania
- IOAN CONSTANTIN, CCIFER Representative & Cyber Security Expert, Orange
- CORINA VASILE, Executive Director, ANIS Romania
For the 17 Innovation categories of this edition, we present the WINNERS of THE INNOVATION AWARDS GALA 2026:
🔷 SECTION: PROJECTS & IMPLEMENTATIONS
BEST AI IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT
🏆 Winner: VOIS Romania: Project CADi
This distinction recognized one of the most advanced AI solutions applied to complex enterprise processes: the internal CADi platform, an AI ecosystem dedicated to transforming pre-sales activities, service architecture, and risk management.
CADi is not simply an automation tool but a complete end-to-end reconstruction of workflows, with artificial intelligence integrated directly into critical stages of analysis, design, validation, and decision-making. This approach enables teams to work faster, more consistently, and with higher quality when delivering proposals to enterprise customers.
The impact of the implementation is significant and measurable. CADi has reduced proposal response times by up to 30% and accelerated analysis and proposal creation processes by up to 30%.
The platform has also driven organizational transformation, becoming a catalyst for broader AI adoption within the company. High levels of internal usage and recognition by company leadership confirm its strategic value and operational relevance.
INNOVATIVE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
🏆 Winner: SysAgria by Syswin Solutions
This award acknowledged an innovative product developed entirely in Romania that redefines precision agriculture through the integration of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and real-time monitoring of agricultural land.
In a global context shaped by climate change, pressure on natural resources, and the need for sustainable agricultural growth, the product provides farmers with an intelligent decision-making tool capable of transforming field-collected data into actionable recommendations. Its innovative value lies in its ability to go beyond simple agricultural monitoring. By leveraging AI-based predictive models and data-correlation algorithms, it generates recommendations related to irrigation, fertilization, crop protection treatments, disease and pest risk assessment, and the optimal timing of agricultural interventions.
Today, the company’s infrastructure is active in 25 counties and all eight development regions of Romania, supporting farms of all sizes and demonstrating the ability of Romanian technology to create nationwide impact.
CYBERSECURITY INNOVATION SOLUTION AWARD
🏆 Winner: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES ROMANIA
This distinctionrecognized an innovation that sets new global standards in cybersecurity for connected vehicles and the digital mobility of the future. As automobiles evolve from simple means of transportation into complex digital platforms connected to cloud services, intelligent infrastructures, and external ecosystems, cybersecurity becomes an essential component of safety and functionality. In this context, the TEGRION™ SLI22 solution serves as a true “digital vault” for vehicles, protecting sensitive cryptographic data, authenticating communications, and ensuring the integrity of connections between vehicles, their components, and external ecosystems. The solution’s impact has already been validated by the industry. Customer interest began during the early stages of development, and more than 150,000 samples were distributed for validation before commercial launch.
Today, numerous automotive manufacturers and suppliers are integrating the solution into their products, confirming its technological maturity and commercial relevance.
TRANSFORMATIVE SERVICE OF THE YEAR
🏆 Winner: Brinel iQanto: The Full-Stack AI Transformation
This award recognized a company that developed and implemented a comprehensive AI-driven transformation program that redefined the operations of one of Romania’s largest packaging manufacturers. Unlike traditional digitalization initiatives focused on optimizing isolated processes, the solution created a unified AI ecosystem connecting three critical business functions: customer relations, design processes, and production planning. This holistic approach transforms the organization into an integrated system capable of making fast, consistent, and data-driven decisions in real time. The project delivered concrete and measurable results. Implementation accelerated operational processes by up to 30%, significantly reduced manual activities, and optimized raw-material consumption. At the same time, the organization achieved more efficient use of human resources, lower operational costs, and increased productivity without expanding existing teams. The financial impact is equally significant. Reduced labor costs for repetitive activities, lower material waste, optimized inventory management, and revenue protection through improved customer relationships generated a strong return on investment and long-term benefits.
🔷 SECTION: INNOVATION SPECIAL AWARD
RETAIL MEDIA & DATA INNOVATION AWARD
🏆 Winner: AUCHAN RETAIL ROMANIA
The Retail Media & Data Innovation Award recognized a company that has successfully transformed retail into an advanced technology platform where data, digitalization, and omnichannel experiences create real value for brands and consumers.
We are talking about an ecosystem that is no longer just a communication platform, but a business tool in its own right—one that connects brands with consumers in a relevant, efficient, and fully measurable way. At the center of this model lies technology: integrated digital infrastructures, real-time analytics, and AI-powered solutions that enable continuous personalization and optimization. It is a clear demonstration that modern retail is no longer just about products on shelves—it is about technology, data, and continuous innovation.
🔷 SECTION: COLLABORATION AND ECOSYSTEMS
CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATIVE PROJECT AWARD
🏆 Winner: VODAFONE ROMANIA & National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest
This award acknowledged the partnership behind the development of the 5G-ENRICH project, an initiative that demonstrates the power of collaboration between industry, academia, and European institutions in building the digital infrastructure of the future.
Through this project, Romania achieves a national and regional first: the implementation of the first private educational mobile network based on 5G Standalone technology and advanced edge-computing capabilities, transforming a university campus into a living laboratory for innovation and technological experimentation. Funded by the European Commission, the project was selected among 53 strategic European initiatives dedicated to developing advanced digital infrastructures. With a total value of €2.9 million, it represents a model of effective collaboration between academic expertise and industry technological capabilities.
ACADEMIC–INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP AWARD
🏆 Winner: ICI Bucharest & National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest
This award recognized the collaboration behind the launch and coordination of one of Romania’s most important digital infrastructure projects:RO AI Factory. This project marks a milestone for the national research, innovation, and technology ecosystem through the creation of Romania’s first national infrastructure dedicated to artificial intelligence. RO AI Factory is a large-scale initiative that will include the implementation and operation of a next-generation supercomputer optimized for AI applications, alongside the development of a comprehensive ecosystem of digital services, data platforms, and advanced tools for research, business, and the public sector. Designed as an open and collaborative infrastructure, the project will have a direct impact on critical domains such as industry and manufacturing, cybersecurity, life sciences, digital public services, and autonomous systems. Through this approach, RO AI Factory becomes not only a technology center but also a catalyst for digital transformation at both national and European levels.
CORPORATE–STARTUP BRIDGE AWARD
🏆 Winner: TechAngels România
This award was presented to the organization whose members directly invested more than €1.6 million in technology startups during 2025, despite a challenging economic environment marked by uncertainty and regulatory changes, according to a statement.
Throughout 2025, the individual investors grouped within this organization evaluated more than 300 startups, of which 81 were presented during weekly pitch sessions. Most came from the AI and deep-tech sectors, followed by solutions in healthcare, human resources, fintech, and mobility. The organization is an open network of private investors supporting the growth of technology startups in Romania and across the region. The network includes more than 130 members—entrepreneurs and C-level professionals—who contribute capital, expertise, and time. Over the past 12 years, its members have invested more than €46 million.
🔷 SECTION: INNOVATION WITH SOCIAL IMPACT & SUSTAINABILITY
SOCIAL IMPACT INNOVATION AWARD
🏆 Winner: .lumen: Nearly 20 million euros in raised funding in 5 years
This distinction went to a company that demonstrates that true innovation reaches its highest value when it directly and profoundly improves people’s lives. The company began with an ambitious mission: providing an accessible and scalable alternative to guide dogs for millions of blind people worldwide. The result is an intelligent device that uses advanced perception technologies and artificial intelligence to guide users during mobility and provide unprecedented autonomy. Worn on the head like a pair of glasses, the device functions as a navigation system for people with visual impairments. By analyzing the surrounding environment in real time, it identifies obstacles, safe routes, and directions, delivering an experience comparable to that of a guide dog, but at a much lower cost and with the potential for large-scale deployment.
SUSTAINABLE & GREEN INNOVATION AWARD
🏆 Winner: Hidroelectrica & WALDEVAR Energy: The first floating photovoltaic panel system
This award recognized a partnership that marks a milestone in Romania’s and Europe’s green energy transition: the first pilot floating photovoltaic system integrated into a hydropower reservoir—the Nufărul Project in Olt County.
The project represents both a technological and operational first for the beneficiary and an example of strategic collaboration between two leaders in the renewable energy sector. With a contract value of RON 39.2 million and a 14-month implementation timeline, the project combines advanced design, high-precision execution, and the integration of state-of-the-art photovoltaic technologies.
Beyond its technical scale—10 MW of total installed capacity—the project serves as an innovative model for integrating hydropower and solar energy generation, leveraging existing infrastructure to increase the efficiency and sustainability of the energy mix.
🔷 SECTION: INVESTMENTS, TRANSFORMATION AND CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PIONEER
🏆 Winner: Concentrix Romania: Powering Intelligent Transformation at Scale
This award acknowledged a company that plays an outstanding role in accelerating digital transformation and operationalizing artificial intelligence at scale, in a way that generates real value for organizations and superior experiences for customers.
At a time when many companies are exploring AI’s potential but few manage to integrate it effectively into business processes, this company demonstrates that true digital transformation means more than technology—it means reinventing how organizations operate, make decisions, and create value. As a global intelligent transformation partner, the company helps organizations design, build, and operate customer-centric processes powered by artificial intelligence, advanced technology, and human expertise. With a presence in more than 70 countries and hundreds of enterprise clients worldwide, it delivers end-to-end services in areas such as customer experience, digital operations, trust & safety, and compliance.
R&D INVESTOR OF THE YEAR
🏆 Winner: NXP Semiconductors: The EU’s IPCEI ME/CT financing to expand research and development in Romania
This distinction recognized a company that makes strategic and sustained investments in research and development, contributes to strengthening the European microelectronics ecosystem, and plays an essential role in developing the technologies that will define the future of mobility. Through its involvement in the SENTHICOM project—one of Europe’s most ambitious programs dedicated to advanced microelectronics and communication technologies—the company has reinforced its development plans in Romania through investments worth tens of millions of euros.
The project mobilizes specialized teams in Bucharest and Sibiu to develop cutting-edge technologies for autonomous driving and intelligent communication infrastructures. The opening of its second research and development center in Sibiu, along with the continuous expansion of local teams, confirms the company’s long-term commitment to Romania and to developing the skills needed for the economy of the future.
🔷 SECTION: LEADERS IN INNOVATION
YOUNG TECH VISIONARY (UNDER 35)
🏆 Winner: CORNEL AMARIEI, CEO & Co-founder .lumen
This award went to the CEO and co-founder of the Romanian startup dotLumen for his exceptional vision, deeply human-centered innovation, and remarkable technological impact in developing solutions that radically improve accessibility and mobility for blind and visually impaired individuals. Founded in Cluj-Napoca in 2020, dotLumen is one of Europe’s most ambitious technology initiatives in assistive solutions for the visually impaired. The company develops intelligent navigation devices designed as wearable head-mounted systems that function like a digital mobility guide, providing users with greater autonomy and safety at significantly lower costs than traditional solutions. With nearly €20 million in cumulative funding and an estimated valuation of around €40 million, dotLumen ranks among Romania’s most valuable hardware startups, demonstrating the potential of the local deep-tech innovation ecosystem.
The award recognizes the courage, perseverance, and vision of a young innovator who proves that cutting-edge technology can serve social good. Through dotLumen, he is opening new perspectives on how innovation can transform limitations into opportunities and help build a more inclusive and empathetic society.
INNOVATION AMBASSADOR
🏆 Winner: ADRIAN VICTOR VEVERA, General Director of National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics – ICI Bucharest
This award recognized a leader who transforms innovation from an abstract concept into a real engine of growth, connecting technology with societal needs and the future of the digital economy.With a strong interdisciplinary background reflected in three doctoral degrees, and expertise spanning cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, critical infrastructures, blockchain, and high-performance computing, our laureate is a true advocate of emerging technologies. His work combines advanced research with a practical vision in which technology must be secure, useful, and applicable to real-life challenges. As the leader of one of Romania’s most important research institutions in informatics, he has played a decisive role in strengthening its position as a national and international innovation hub. He has developed strategic projects in key areas and built strong bridges between public administration, the private sector, academia, and international partners.He is actively involved in major initiatives supporting the development of national AI capabilities and data ecosystems, as well as in prestigious international structures shaping the future of dual-use technologies and transatlantic cooperation. Through these roles, he contributes to positioning Romania as a relevant player in the European and global digital landscape.He also supports dialogue and collaboration platforms that bring together experts, institutions, and companies, helping to build an ecosystem based on trust, knowledge, and innovation.
INNOVATION LEADER OF THE YEAR
🏆 Winner: SIMONA ALMĂJAN, Country Manager, NXP Semiconductors Romania
This distinction recognized exceptional leadership in advancing technological innovation and strategic contributions to the transformation of the semiconductor industry and the smart mobility ecosystem in Romania and Europe.
At a time when the automotive and microelectronics industries are undergoing profound transformation, this leader has emerged as an influential voice in defining future technological directions, highlighting the critical role of semiconductors in modern mobility. In her vision, the growing complexity of automotive systems requires a fundamental paradigm shift—from distributed architectures to platforms capable of orchestrating the entire vehicle ecosystem. This transformation creates not only technological efficiency but also redefines how automotive manufacturers operate, increasingly becoming technology companies. The award recognizes her essential role in guiding the automotive industry’s technological transformation and strengthening Romania’s position as a strategic hub for semiconductor innovation and smart mobility.
🔷 SECTION: START-UP & SCALE-UP EXCELLENCE
START-UP DISRUPTOR OF THE YEAR
🏆 Winner: DRUID AI: The €26 million to accelerate agentic AI platform growth under new CEO
This award was presented to a pioneer in conversational artificial intelligence that has built an end-to-end platform enabling companies to create, manage, and orchestrate AI agents capable of automating complex business processes. The company has developed a technology ecosystem that has already surpassed significant scaling milestones, powering more than one billion conversations through over 4,000 AI agents and serving more than 300 clients globally. Its platform is used in critical industries such as banking, financial services, and insurance, where leading customers such as Liberty Global, BCR, and Auchan benefit from intelligent automation and advanced digital interactions. The real-world impact of the company’s technology is also reflected in its use across education and the public sector, where implemented solutions have improved access to information, increased operational efficiency, and created personalized digital experiences for users.
INNOVATIVE COMPANY OF THE YEAR
🏆 Winner: AUMOVIO Romania: Adaptive Powerhouse for Future Mobility
The Innovative Company of the Year Award was dedicated to a company that consistently contributes to redefining the future of mobility through technological innovation, engineering excellence, and solutions that transform the global automotive industry.
We are talking about a global leader in technologies for safe, connected, and autonomous mobility, with revenues of €18.5 billion, more than 82,000 employees, and over 80 locations worldwide. The company develops essential technologies for the next generation of vehicles and accelerates the transition toward smart mobility. Within this global ecosystem, Romania plays a strategic role. With operations in Brașov, Iași, Sibiu, and Timișoara, four research and development centers, two production facilities, and a team of approximately 12,000 specialists—more than half of whom are engineers and IT experts—the local division is one of the group’s strongest competence centers.