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Ministry of Economy wants “Silicon Valley” in Cluj
The Ministry of Economy announced in a press release “the launch of a new growth pole in Cluj, concentrated on research, innovation and IT services, which will include IT companies as in Silicon Valley.” According to the ministry, this growth pole will have two parts, a physical and a virtual one and follows similar models developed at Skolkovo and Luxembourg.
The physical part has in view the necessary infrastructure – transport, buildings and utilities- so that companies included in this cluster could function on the same platform, ensuring increased collaboration possibilities. The virtual part is based on an intranet structure which could help the exchange of information and collaboration in joint projects of cluster members.
Silicon Valley from Cluj – Ministry of Economy outlook
* The new pole will include a series of factors in its growth strategy, meant to make a contribution to the development of this economic initiative.
* The first growth factor is represented by small and medium size IT companies in the area. Their activity made Cluj one of the first three cities in Romania with incomes generated by IT and the first according to export incomes. This export opening especially to markets in the USA and EU, the fact that Cluj companies cover a broad range of IT services , the presence of Romanian and foreign capital within these companies indicate the possibility of reaching high growth rates in case of a cluster type structure.
* The second growth factor is the proximity of some of the biggest universities in Romania – institutions like the Technical University and Babes Bolyai University – whose high number of students can be a base for human resources needed in the development of the cluster.
* The managers of these units will collaborate with cluster leaders to adjust curriculum in fields of interest (science and technical) so that students could master the set of information needed to cope with demands.
* The third growth factor will be the support offered by the Romanian state, which defined a series of instruments meant to back these new economic growth initiatives. For instance, the government approved this week an aid plan of 100 million euro for IT companies which create more than 200 jobs.
* At the same time, the Ministry of Economy will collaborate with the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism to elaborate an aid plan for business structures, which will cover both infrastructure type needs, by covering expenses for transport, utilities and physical construction as well as know-how , equipment and training.
* Among the instruments created by the state to back this initiative there are legislative measures. The new law of small and medium companies stipulates facilities for research and innovation companies which will also benefit members of the cluster.
* The growth pole in Cluj will set up companies offering IT services for export and will have positive influence on the entire society.