Pakistan, Romania eye deeper tech, innovation ties

Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Khalid Hussain Magsi, met Romanian Ambassador Dan Stoenescu to discuss expanding cooperation in science, technology, innovation, and education.

According to an official statement issued on Saturday, the ambassador reaffirmed Romania's commitment to stronger collaboration with Pakistan. He praised Pakistan's steady progress in digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and regional technology inclusion.

Stoenescu offered Pakistan access to key European Union-funded programmes through Romania's facilitative role. These include Horizon Europe, a €95.5 billion research and innovation programme; Erasmus+, an education and academic exchange platform; and the Digital Europe Programme. The statement said these opportunities would allow Pakistani institutions to engage in collaborative initiatives in AI, cybersecurity, renewable energy, space technology, agriculture, and green innovation.

The federal minister was briefed on Romania's IT potential. Romania, one of Europe's fastest-growing innovation hubs, derives over 6% of its GDP from IT and employs more than 200,000 skilled professionals. The country is known for its expertise in cybersecurity, fintech, AI, cloud computing, blockchain, and automotive software. It hosts global tech giants such as Microsoft, IBM, Amazon, and Oracle, alongside a thriving ecosystem of local, export-oriented firms.

Magsi commended Romania's global leadership in producing recognised tech solutions and unicorn companies. He expressed Pakistan's interest in learning from Romania's shift to a knowledge-based economy. He reiterated that technology-led development is crucial for Pakistan's future.

Romania's startup ecosystem has produced billion-dollar companies like UiPath (robotic process automation), Bitdefender (cybersecurity), Elrond (blockchain), and FintechOS (fintech). Cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi, Brasov, and Bucharest have become dynamic tech hubs backed by universities and innovation parks.

Both sides discussed areas for long-term cooperation. These include establishing joint ventures for software development targeting EU and Gulf markets, capacity building in cybersecurity, academic and tech exchanges between Romania's innovation hubs and Pakistan's National Incubation Centers, and joint research in AI, IoT, and blockchain under Horizon Europe and Digital Europe frameworks. They also explored collaboration in e-government solutions and digital public service transformation.

Magsi stressed the need for long-term plan for sustained relations through institutional partnerships, continuity of programmes, and strategic engagement.

The ambassador proposed signing an MoU between Pakistan's Ministry of Science and Technology and Romania's National Authority for Digitalisation and National Authority for Research. He also suggested organising a Science and Technology Forum.