A unique arena where bold ideas are debated and policy is forged at the intersection of technology and diplomacy, Statecraft Lab sets the stage for the pressing conversations Romania needs today.
This launch event brings together visionary policymakers, diplomats, and digital governance pioneers to explore what it means to govern in a rapidly digitizing world amid profound geopolitical shifts.
On 9 September 2025, at Hotel Marmorosch in Bucharest, the first Statecraft Lab will unveil our institute’s first two research projects and champion evidence-based approaches to statecraft.
Two high-level panels will anchor the event:
- “E-Governing Romania: Accelerating Digitalization through European Success Stories” – a dialogue on the digital transformation of public administration, focusing on fiscal digitalization, interoperability, and institutional efficiency. The panel will be moderated by Hannes Astok (CEO of E-Governance Academy, Estonia), a global leader in digital governance. This is an opportunity to understand major directions in state modernization, with a direct impact on the economic environment.
Confirmed speakers for this panel: Andrei M. Carciun, specialist in Digitalization and Data Analysis at West University of Timișoara, and a representative from Google Romania, to provide the private sector’s perspective on the public digitalization process.
- “Romanian Foreign Policy in a Shifting World: Between Realpolitik and Idealpolithink” – a discussion on Romania’s strategic positioning in a volatile geopolitical context, offering unique perspectives on diplomacy, security, trade, and regional influence.
Confirmed speakers:
- Luminița-Teodora Odobescu – career diplomat, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Presidential Advisor for Foreign Affairs, previously serving as Romania’s Permanent Representative to the EU.
- Luca Niculescu – former Ambassador of Romania to France, Andorra, and Monaco, later appointed as State Secretary coordinating Romania’s OECD accession process (since 2022).
- Iulian Chifu – foreign policy analyst, university professor (SNSPA and other institutions), founder and president of the Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning in Bucharest; former Presidential Advisor for Strategic Affairs and International Security.
Polithink President – Mrs. Andreea Paul, a prominent figure in the Romanian economic, political, and digital development landscape. Through her academic activity, advisory and legislative roles, she has made significant contributions to shaping public policies and promoting competitiveness as well as women’s engagement in society.
These panels provide not only a framework for reflection but also opportunities for meaningful connections among government leaders, decision-makers, companies, and civic organizations.
Confirmed partners include Medima Clinics, Autonom, and Google Romania.
Backing the panels is a nation-wide survey led by INSCOP Research, ensuring every discussion is rooted in real, data-driven insight. By convening policymakers, scholars, and practitioners, Statecraft Lab seeks to chart how Romania can deliver meaningful digital transformation in public administration and articulate a strong, coherent foreign policy posture in a world of accelerating change.
