State Secretary Laurentiu Gidei: “Romania has all the assets to become a regional hub for research, production and innovation for clean mobility”

“The automotive industry is today more than a traditional economic sector, it is an interconnected technological ecosystem in which innovation, digitalization, sustainability and technological sovereignty intersect.

We are going through a period in which the boundaries between the automotive, IT, energy, and environmental sectors are becoming increasingly permeable. What was once an industry focused on mechanical production chains is today a multi-sector platform in which automotive software, cybersecurity, communications, 5G, batteries, automotive systems, and artificial intelligence are becoming critical components of the final product,” Laurentiu Gidei, State Secretary, Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship, Digitalization and Tourism said at Automotive R&D Conference organized by Automotive Today and The Diplomat-Bucharest.

Key statements:

• This transformation of the automotive industry creates both adaptation pressures and strategic opportunities for states that know how to proactively rethink industrial and innovation policies. For Romania, this European context is a unique opportunity to reposition its automotive industry in the hierarchy of European value chains.
• The Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism has developed a coherent set of policies and instruments. Developing research and development capacities, strengthening the regulatory framework and investing in industrial and energy infrastructure.
• I firmly believe that Romania has all the assets to become a regional hub for research, production and innovation for clean mobility. We have a solid automotive industry, a performing academic system, an active entrepreneurial environment and more and more cluster initiatives. We need to strengthen these resources through collaborative governance, constant institutional support and a shared commitment to strategic objectives.
• I assure you that we have the will, the capacity and the right partners to turn this vision into reality. We are open to dialogue with industry representatives to identify together the solutions of the future in the automotive industry. We need to have a common path in identifying future government policies and measures to support you.
• I encourage you to continue to innovate, think strategically and set ambitious goals, adapted to the accelerated pace of global change. You have the ability to respond to increasingly complex market demands and transform challenges into opportunities. You can count on the constant support of the Government through public policies and concrete measures oriented towards the future.