Romanian EDGE Institute Delegation Visits Johan Skytte Institute to Explore Digital Innovation and Future Partnerships

On March 26, the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies at the University of Tartu had the honour of welcoming a high-level delegation from Romania’s recently launched EDGE Institute – a think tank serving as a catalyst for Romania’s digital transformation. The visit to Tartu was part of a broader fact-finding mission to Estonia, during which the delegation engaged with a wide range of public and private institutions across the country to learn from Estonia’s experience in digital governance, innovation, and transformation.

The EDGE delegation included prominent leaders from the technology, finance, academia, and entrepreneurship sectors, serving as members of the Institute’s Board, including – among the others - Elisabeta Moraru (Country Director, Google Romania), Mihai Matei (CEO, Essensys Software & Vice President, Concordia Employers’ Confederation), Răzvan Rughiniș (Vice Dean, Faculty of Automation and Computer Science, Polyethnic University of Bucharest; Co-founder, Innovation Labs), (CEO, Commercial Bank of Romania), Cosmin Alexandru (Teamology, Entrepreneurship Academy), and Victor Guzun (Digital Transformation Consultant and former Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Estonia), who led the delegation and organized the fact-finding mission to Estonia.

The Tartu visit featured welcome remarks and an overview of the Faculty of Social Sciences by the Faculty Dean, Prof. Margit Keller, followed by presentations highlighting the University of Tartu’s approach to digitalisation, e-learning, and cutting-edge research. In particular, Ms. Kristina Lillemets and Mr. Imre Lall presented on the university’s digital transformation strategies and AI implementation, while Prof. Meelis Kull shared the activities of the Estonian Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence. Lastly, Ms. Anna Beitane introduced ongoing e-learning initiatives and digital education projects at the Johan Skytte Institute.

The session concluded with an engaging discussion moderated by Dr. Stefano Braghiroli, Associate Professor of European Studies, which fostered a dynamic exchange of experiences and perspectives. The conversation focused on the role of universities in driving digital innovation, the challenges of integrating AI and digital tools in higher education, and the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration between academia, government, and industry. Both sides explored opportunities for joint research, talent development, and sharing best practices in digital governance and public sector innovation, underlining the value of long-term partnerships between Estonia and Romania in the digital domain.

Reflecting on the visit, Dr. Kristiina Tõnnisson, Director of the Johan Skytte Institute, noted: “The EDGE Institute brings together an inspiring group of leaders who are shaping Romania’s digital future. At the Skytte Institute and the University of Tartu, we see great value in building partnerships that are grounded in shared ambitions for innovation, digital transformation, and research excellence. This visit marks an important step in fostering long-term cooperation between our institutions.”