Keynote Speakers
Mihai Ghiță
Engineering Director @ Oracle | MIT Certified Advisor | Championing Innovation & Sustainability
Mihai Ghiță is a Solution Engineering Director, passionate about innovation, sustainability, and driving collaboration and change in the tech industry.
He has led the development of working models and tools quantifying the decarbonization effects of cloud services. With a future-oriented vision, Mihai Ghiță leads a team of experts that are instrumental to the success of the Oracle Cloud Systems Business.
Alexandru Paraschiv
Leading Adobe Firefly | Engineering Leader
Engineering Leader with a solid background in technology consulting, Alexandru Paraschiv combines strategic planning with stakeholder management and authentic leadership.
His career has been marked by transformational initiatives and the launch of scalable software solutions at an international level. With a practical approach, focused on concrete results and customer satisfaction, Alexandru Paraschiv implements digital transformation projects on a global scale.
Ștefania Budulan
Artificial Intelligence Mentor | Harnessing the LLM Ecosystem: Efficient Strategies for Adaptation
Ștefania Budulan is an Artificial Intelligence Technology Lead, with an impressive experience in developing AI-based solutions for industries such as financial services, media, telecommunications and the Internet of Things (IoT).
She is an active supporter of fundamental research, especially in the field of natural language processing (NLP), coordinating the AI research activity of several undergraduate and master's students at the Politehnica University of Bucharest. Furthermore, Ștefania Budulan was an AI mentor at the University of Lisbon.
Bogdan Pătru
Government Engagement Lead at Mastercard | National Order of Merit
Bogdan Pătru is one of the people to whom we owe the existence of the Ghiseul.ro mobile application. As Government Engagement Lead for Romania and Croatia at Mastercard, Bogdan Pătru leverages over 15 years of experience in the legal and public policy fields to support the company’s mission to build a more inclusive and resilient digital economy.
He collaborates with governments, regulators, industry associations and civil society organizations to promote the implementation of innovative and secure payment solutions that benefit consumers, businesses and society as a whole.
Panel session speakers
Chair: Professor Ph.D. Octavian Mădălin Bunoiu
Vice Rector of West University of Timișoara
Mădălin Bunoiu is Vice-Rector of the West University of Timișoara, with over 20 years of experience in research, innovation, and academic leadership. He has served as Pro-Rector, Chancellor, and president of ARACIS, and currently leads Romania’s Consultative College for Research. His contributions have earned major distinctions, including “Les Palmes Académiques” and the National Order “Faithful Service.
Sorin Maxim
Director General ADR Vest
Sorin Maxim is the General Director of the West Regional Development Agency, where he coordinates the development and innovation strategies of the West Region through programs funded by European funds. With more than two decades of experience in regional development management, he supports the creation of a strong local ecosystem of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, connected to European and global trends.
Lucian Mărgineanu
General Manager, Flex, Romania
Lucian Mărgineanu became General Manager of Flex Timișoara on May 5th, 2025. With international operations experience in the automotive sector (China, Czech Republic, Serbia), he is known for launching new ventures and optimizing performance, guided by his motto: “the quality you get is the quality you accept.” He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electronics from Politehnica University of Timișoara. Outside work, he’s passionate about cycling, photography, videography, and emerging technologies.
Andrei Muntean
Co-Founder & CEO Co-work Timișoara
Tech-savvy traveler, Co-founder & CEO at Cowork Timisoara, and running all over the place. Co-founder @ PROW Conference, Startup Survivor true believer, always on the lookout for a good espresso. Let’s discuss startups, tech & motorcycles.
Val Mureșan
Personal Advisor to the Mayor of Timișoara, Co-Founder ABQ Institute
Val Mureșan is a tech entrepreneur and ecosystem builder working across AI, Blockchain, and Quantum technologies. He co-founded ABQ.Institute, curates ABQ.Dialogues, advises the Municipality of Timișoara on digitalization, co-created the Master’s in Quantum Computing at UPT, and previously founded the Movidius Timișoara R&D center. He focuses on innovation, ethical AI, and strengthening Timișoara’s role in Europe’s tech landscape.
Dan Bugariu
BanatIT President
Software architect and entrepreneur, Dan wears multiple hats: co-founder of Growceanu and FABER, President of Banat IT Association, and university lecturer. He architects growth across interconnected urban ecosystems - data, civic, tech, innovation, and entrepreneurship, sharing how these have evolved in Timișoara over the past five years and revealing the tools, principles, and methods that make multi-stakeholder collaboration work.
Pavel Bujdoso
Head of R&D Safety and Motion PSS Timisoara, Aumovio
With over two decades in the automotive industry, Pavel Bujdoso has driven global R&D projects and organizations in the Passive Safety & Sensorics area. Currently Head of Research and Development at AUMOVIO Timisoara, responsible for Passive Safety and Sensorics, he combines deep expertise in Software, System Engineering and Automotive Electronics with a strong focus on Innovation. Passionate about emerging technologies, he explores the potential of AI to transform vehicle safety and mobility, actively contributing to industry forums and collaborative projects shaping the future of automotive technology.
Sergiu Novac
Chief Technology Officer, Atos, România
Sergiu Novac is the Chief Technology Officer at Atos Romania, where he guides the company’s technology strategy and innovation efforts. A graduate of the Faculty of Automation and Computers at Politehnica University of Timișoara, he began his IT career in 2005 and has since gained extensive experience in technical leadership and program management across global operations. Known for his belief that “there are no shortcuts to success,” Sergiu focuses on building high-performing teams, driving large-scale transformation programs, and ensuring strong alignment between technology and business goals. His combination of deep technical expertise and strategic execution makes him a key contributor to Atos Romania’s digital advancement in the region.
Wanda Fiat
Lead Data Scientist, Eviden Technologies
Wanda Fiat is an AI and product innovation leader passionate about turning complex technology into meaningful, real-world solutions. With 14 years of experience across data science, ML, and product management, she has built AI systems used daily in healthcare, fintech, and enterprise environments. She founded and led her own startup’s development of an AI assistant for doctors and recently joined Eviden, where she focuses on taking their AI capabilities to the next level.
Raul Pantea
IBM & RedHat Practice Area Leader
Raul Pantea is a Red Hat architect at IBM Consulting, where he works with cloud and Red Hat technologies, contributing to the development of modern, secure, and scalable solutions for clients. A graduate of the West University of Timișoara (UVT), Raul has maintained a strong connection with the academic environment and collaborates with the university on student-focused projects, offering them the opportunity to discover how technology is applied in practice. Passionate about mentoring and continuous learning, he supports and guides young people in building solid careers in the cloud and DevOps fields. Naturally curious, Raul combines technical thinking with strategic vision, believing that innovation, collaboration, and adaptability are key to delivering lasting value to both clients and the IT community.
Adrian Robu
Communication and Training Consultant Bosch Romania
I’m Adrian, 33, and I’ve always been driven by understanding how things work and how to improve them. I studied Medical Physics at UVT, which shaped my precision and systematic mindset. This focus on efficiency guided my path through scientific research, quality roles in automotive, and later to Bosch. I first joined Bosch as a LEAN Navigator, implementing LEAN and continuous improvement processes with hands-on impact. I’m now a Communication & Training Consultant at Bosch, working with a global team across Germany, Poland, Brazil, India, Hungary, Vietnam and other locations. My role includes resource pool management, trainings, newsletters, event preparation and moderation, while also exploring AI tools to streamline our daily work. I’m known for being organized, punctual, detail-oriented, and maintaining a consistently positive attitude.
Workshop - Innovation Through Collaboration
Chair: Alexandra Petcu
Head of the Innovation & Technology Transfer Centre
Alexandra Petcu is Head of the Innovation & Technology Transfer Centre at the West University of Timișoara (UVT). She teaches Entrepreneurship, Financial Performance Analysis and Innovation for Sustainable Development. Alexandra co-leads UVT’s sustainability and tech transfer strategy within the UNITA European University Alliance, contributing to its interterritorial interfaces for innovation. With over 15 years of experience in education, environmental policy, and sustainable entrepreneurship, she has supported the launch of over 70 start-ups aligned with sustainability goals. Alexandra holds a PhD in Human Capital Accounting, is a Council Member of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), where she co-chairs the Education and Learning Working Group.
Ariana Cordoș
Project Manager Freshblood Healthtech
Ariana Cordos, PhD is a digital healthcare specialist with over 15 years of experience, adept in medical informatics, and integrating technology into healthcare. She has cultivated knowledge across multiple parts of the healthcare universe from day-to-day nursing activities to the introduction of technology into healthcare organizations, growing a broad understanding of processes and challenges of modern healthcare delivery. Her work focuses on using digital tools for health communication, and improving patient care. With a deep-rooted passion for education, serving as Project Manager at Freshblood, associate lecturer at the Department of Public Health at Babes-Bolyai University and Vice President of the Romanian Society of Medical Informatics, Ariana is fueling the development and execution of initiatives that reimagine health educational paradigms.
Workshop - European AI infrastructure
Chair: Assistant Professor Ph.D. Adrian Spătaru
Vice Dean of Faculty of Computer Science
Adrian Spătaru is an Assistant Professor at the West University of Timișoara, within the Faculty of Computer Science, where he teaches courses in programming, large-scale data analysis, and entrepreneurship. His research focuses on distributed systems (Cloud, Edge) and their connection to artificial intelligence. His contributions include work on algorithms for computational resource scheduling, usage prediction, and the orchestration of software components to leverage computing accelerators such as GPUs and FPGAs.
Romina Popescu
AI Product Manager, Eviden
Romina Popescu is an AI Product Manager at Eviden, leading the development of products and PoCs that utilize generative AI and machine learning. She has a colourful background, having worked in architecture, cultural, governmental and IT industries, with a consistent focus on digital products and innovative experiments. She specialized in Generative Design, UX and building applications focusing on both B2B and B2C. In Eviden she promotes pivoting from service and project delivery to service design and product development. Romina experiments with design thinking consultancy and employing various mental models & systems to brainstorm and validate ideas with clients and users.
Workshop - Cyber Intelligence & Resilience
Chair: Assistant Professor Ph.D. Sebastian-Aurelian Ștefănigă
Vice Dean of Faculty of Computer Science
Sebastian-Aurelian Ștefănigă has over a decade of academic experience at the West University of Timișoara. He earned his B.Sc. in Applied Computer Science in 2014, followed by an M.Sc. in Artificial Intelligence and Distributed Computing in 2016. In 2021, he completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science, strengthening his research profile and academic contributions. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor within the Faculty of Computer Science and as Vice Dean, and he is also the Vice President of the Romanian Society for Medical Informatics. Dr. Ștefănigă has an extensive track record in research and innovation, participating in more than ten national and international projects funded by the European Commission and various research agencies, in both leadership and team roles. His research interests span Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, and Medical Informatics, reflecting a strong multidisciplinary orientation. Through his work, he consistently applies advanced computational methods to address real-world challenges and contribute to the development of data-driven solutions in healthcare and beyond.
Rebeca Tonu
Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science, West University of Timișoara
Rebeca Tonu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Informatics and a Master’s degree in Cyber Security from the West University of Timișoara, where she first developed a strong interest in advanced security systems and digital investigation. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Cyber Security, with her research focused on blockchain forensics. Alongside her main track, she is actively interested in malware analysis and AI-related topics. Her academic trajectory reflects a strong commitment to understanding and addressing contemporary cybersecurity challenges. She has also contributed to teaching laboratory sessions in Design Patterns and Programming, supporting the development of undergraduate students.
Mircea Prejban
Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science, West University of Timișoara
Prejban Mircea is a Teaching Assistant and PhD Candidate at the West University of Timișoara. Mircea is interested in the cybersecurity field, and his research focuses on malware analysis and detection methodologies. In addition to these methodologies, Mircea is interested in digital forensics, cryptography and blockchain technologies.
Otilia Muntean
Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science, West University of Timișoara
Otilia Muntean holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Cyber Security from the West University of Timișoara (UVT). She is currently pursuing a PhD in Cyber Security, with research focused on blockchain forensics. She contributes to academic teaching at UVT, supporting courses in Entrepreneurship and Computer Networks. Beyond academia, Otilia is a founder leading software development and technology-driven projects in the private sector, with a focus on building secure, scalable systems and applied solutions for modern IT infrastructures. She also develops research-informed training and educational initiatives that support digital skills and cybersecurity awareness.
Andreea Brad
Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science, West University of Timișoara
