Integral Clusters and Innovation, Oxygen for the Economic Recovery of Galati

The clusters’ subject returned to Galati, in the largest city - port of the Danube where, unfortunately, despite the natural resources and the enormous potential of qualification and specialization of labor, it does not invest enough into the economic recovery. Clusters, the bioeconomy and the Danube strategy are the most viable solutions to this economic revival. This was the central topic debated for two days, October 5-6 (at Museum of Natural Sciences) at the 5th edition of the National Conference of Clusters with the theme: Clusters as Drivers as Value Chain Development Across the Danube Region (“Danubius” University is a supporting partner of this conference).

For the debates there were invited to participate representatives of European and international organizations, research institutes, universities and business environment. There were present representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Silvia DAVIDOIU, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration - Secretary of State Ms. Mihaela VRABETE; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business Environment Relations - Mr. Calin ISTRATOIU; Geography Institute of the Romanian Academy - Mr. Dan BĂLTEANU and officials of Galati County: Mayor of Galati - Ionut PUCHEANU; President of Galati County Council - Costel FOTEA and Mr. Deputy Victor Paul DOBRE.

Entrepreneurial university, deeply involved in the economic recovery of this area of Romania, by engaging all academic resources in developing clusters, in scientific research on the Danube Strategy (it annually organizes the international conference The Danube – Axis of European Identity) and bio-economy, the “Danubius” University, founding member of the first academic cluster, Danubius Academic Consortium, participated in this event by the department of the Danubius International Business School (DIBS). We should mention that, almost a year ago, this University has organized and hosted the theme: ACCESS TO RESOURCES OF EUROPEAN FUNDING FOR INDUSTRIAL RECOVERY, joining clusters being the saving solution for accessing funds for financing projects with high degree of integral innovation.

Ms. Alina RĂILEANU, Director of DIBS, spoke at the plenary session of the National Conference of Clusters, bringing into discussion issues of great interest for the theme of this conference: “As it seems that our heavens are opening, we want be prepared! We have started with an academic cluster in which we have created a joint education master program of the innovators. Then we realized that it is not enough and within the Danubius Academic Consortium (DAC), the European Cluster of Integral Innovation we have added that element that brought us down to earth: the business environment. We have brought a strong partner, the Baden-Wurttemberg Land, people from whom we have a lot to learn and who know the potential of this area. Thus it was born the ecosystem for integral innovation consisting of entities from 12 countries bordering the Danube. DAC started from this whole concept of integral innovation that involves educating the innovators, entrepreneurial education, stimulating creativity, a conversion of that creativity in business and society involvement for accepting these new ideas and their promotion and attracting investors. This is the concept of integral innovation, a concept that the Danubius Academic Consortium has materialized it in the real world by educating innovators, valuing the primary creativity of the people and by using the creativity of our students of the twelve Danube member states and of the Danubius Academic Consortium.

On this occasion, Ms. Alina RĂILEANU, reminded the public the fact that in the same period in which it took place the National Conference of Clusters in Galati, the students from member states of Danubius Academic Consortium presented innovative ideas of potential financiers present at the event DAC Exchange in Stuttgart, Germany. Danubius Academic Consortium (DAC) together with its strategic partner Landesverband der Baden-Württembergischen Industry (LVI BW) – the Industry Association of Land Baden - Wurttemberg under the Ministry for European and International Affairs of Land Baden-Württember, being part of the joint program of the Baden-Württember Intergovernmental Commission – Romania.

In closing, Ms. Alina RĂILEANU highlighted the importance of clusters to change the reputation of this area and to value the fabulous potential that Galati has. “It is a unique opportunity (for investors) in Romania. The Industrial Park is located in the immediate vicinity of the Free Zone, both being on the Danube bank which is an opportunity for those who want to develop a business in this area, especially for export activities.”

Galati awaits the materialization of the valuable ideas presented at this event.

Spokesperson - “Danubius” University
Ana Alina Ionescu DUMITRACHE