The third DS2 Consortium Meeting took place last month in Cluj-Napoca, hosted by Transilvania IT Cluster and the Municipality of Cluj-Napoca. After productive sessions in Helsinki and Madrid, this meeting brought the 17 project’s partners from 8 European countries together in Romania. The goal was to advance the DS2 project with refreshed energy, collaborative insight and targeted strategic planning.
The gathering was held at the ABC Incubator, a comprehensive tech hub situated in Romania's "Silicon Valley" - Cluj-Napoca. ABC Incubator is a comprehensive, 360-degree concept designed to provide facilities, services, and benefits to the most promising tech startups. ABC offers the infrastructure and optimal environment for the growth of future IT companies, both in Cluj-Napoca and beyond. Conceived as a creative and friendly ecosystem, it supports the growth and development of innovative businesses, providing them with assistance during their first three years.
Kick-off and Key Activities
The three-day consortium meeting was filled with interactive sessions, intensive working hours and strategic discussions. The first day opened with a project overview, status updates on work packages and a detailed introduction to the DS2 system. Attendees engaged in technical discussions around challenges, use cases and pathways for implementation.
As a Use Case, Pilot and Living Lab within the DS2 project, Cluj-Napoca’s hosting role was fundamental. Beyond the standard agenda - which included updates, work on various work packages (WPs) and Board of Partners Meetings - the event aimed at achieving a deeper understanding and connection among the technical partners and the realities on the ground.
Exploring Cluj-Napoca: Stakeholder Engagement
A series of meetings and activities across different locations in Cluj-Napoca enriched the program. Attendees participated in a city tour showcasing both traditional and cutting-edge aspects of Cluj, providing context to the city’s role in digital transformation. These visits included discussions with key stakeholders from diverse sectors to address data-sharing challenges and opportunities. The team met with representatives from the Municipality of Cluj-Napoca, the Metropolitan Area of Cluj Napoca, regional energy and agricultural clusters, academia (Technical University of Cluj Napoca) and the Transylvanian Branch of the Order of Architects.
Use Cases Focus
The second day marked significant progress towards one of DS2's Use Cases - the CityScape DataSpace. This data-sharing initiative aims to support climate-neutrality goals and sustainable urban development. Partners also worked on advancing their individual project Use Cases, moving closer to the main DS2 goals.
Wrap-Up and Reflections on Day Three
On the final day, consortium members focused on synthesizing key insights and defining actionable next steps. The collaborative reflections highlighted progress made, identified critical issues for future work and aligned on shared goals for the next phase of the DS2 project.
Cluj-Napoca: A Hub for Digital Innovation and Collaboration
As hosts, Transilvania IT Cluster and the Cluj-Napoca team received enthusiastic feedback from partners who praised the city’s spirit of innovation and forward-looking digital ecosystem. Cluj-Napoca demonstrated its potential as a highly resourceful, community-driven hub for future data-based societies. Partners left inspired and energized, ready to move forward with the project’s goals.
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