Romania Offers Pakistan Access to EU Science, Technology, and AI Programs

Islamabad: Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan, Dan Stoenescu, has reaffirmed Romania’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in science, technology, education, and innovation, acknowledging Pakistan’s growing achievements in digital transformation and artificial intelligence.

The envoy expressed these views during a meeting with Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Khalid Hussain Magsi. He highlighted that, as a key member of the European Union, Romania can offer Pakistan access to flagship EU-funded programs such as Horizon Europe (€95.5 billion for research and innovation, 2021–2027), Erasmus+ (education, training, and academic exchange), and the Digital Europe Programme. These platforms, he noted, open avenues for joint projects in AI, renewable energy, cybersecurity, green technologies, agriculture, and space applications.

Ambassador Stoenescu underlined Romania’s status as one of Europe’s fastest-growing IT and innovation hubs, contributing over 6% to its GDP and employing more than 200,000 professionals. The country’s reputation for highly skilled software engineers, competitive costs, and expertise in cybersecurity, fintech, AI, cloud solutions, blockchain, and automotive software has attracted global tech leaders such as Microsoft, IBM, Amazon, and Oracle, alongside flourishing local firms exporting worldwide.

He noted that Romania has produced several globally recognised unicorns, including UiPath (robotic process automation), Bitdefender (cybersecurity), Elrond (blockchain), and FintechOS (financial technology). Its vibrant tech hubs in Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi, Brasov, and Bucharest blend strong academic institutions with thriving startup ecosystems and innovation parks.

Potential cooperation areas between Pakistan and Romania include joint ventures in software development for EU and Gulf markets, specialised training and certification in cybersecurity, digital forensics collaboration, and exchange programs linking Romania’s innovation hubs with Pakistan’s National Incubation Centers to boost startup growth. Both sides can also initiate joint research in AI, IoT, and blockchain under EU frameworks, while advancing e-government solutions to enhance public service delivery, transparency, and citizen engagement.

To advance this agenda, Ambassador Stoenescu discussed the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Romania’s National Authority for Digitalization and National Authority for Research. He also proposed organising a Romania–Pakistan Science & Technology Forum with a strong emphasis on the IT industry.