THE NEWS

UniCredit Entrepreneurial Residency arrives in Brașov: creative entrepreneurs can test new ideas in Piața Sfântul Ioan.The project is initiated by the PLAI Cultural Center and supported by UniCredit Bank Romania. This year, in Brașov, it also benefits from the support of local partner Iceberg Plus and strategic partners CATTIA and the Brașov City Hall, aiming to support local entrepreneurs.

For a decade, the narrative of the Romanian tech scene was one of "time-renting": a high-density pool of developers serving as the back-engine for Western giants. But as we move through 2026, the "Bucharest Bubble" is giving way to a more distributed, sophisticated economic engine.Investors are calling it the "Correction Spring." It marks the moment Romania transitions from a source of low-cost code to a hub for high-margin, "Deep Tech" products.

FIT EDIH Future-Ready conference — to assess the impact of digitalization programs implemented in the region and map out the strategic direction for 2026–2029.

The Brief+ comes out twice a month, with ideas from our team and partners - researchers, founders, investors, public authorities - alongside news from our project ecosystem and real opportunities in funding and mentorship. Occasionally, we'll send a spontaneous issue when there's a funding call, event, or course that's too relevant to wait for.

In Romania's Centru Region, the context makes this distinction especially relevant. Only 5–8% of local SMEs currently use advanced digital tools like IoT, cloud platforms, or ERP software. Just 35% of businesses require even basic computer skills when hiring. The digital maturity gap is real, and closing it requires understanding what stage you're actually at.

In early March, students interested in contemporary arts and new media can join a series of 9 free online courses, focused on tools that are already part of today’s artistic practice: 3D printing, laser cutting, VR/XR, computer vision & AI, IoT sensors, and cultural entrepreneurship. The programme is designed as an applied “toolkit” for those who want to expand their portfolio with tech-driven projects (installations, objects, interactive performance, scenography, digital exhibitions).

Iceberg Plus is proud to announce its role as a key consortium partner in Vest Ventures, Western Romania's first regional venture capital fund, which officially launched at the Romanian Startup Summit in Timișoara. With a total budget of €16.6 million, the fund marks a transformative moment for the regional startup ecosystem.

The West Region is opening a new chapter with the signing of the agreement for the first regional investment accelerator—an initiative of the West Regional Development Agency (ADR Vest), funded through the West Regional Programme.

Romania’s venture capital (VC) market is experiencing an unprecedented surge in public funding, largely driven by European Union initiatives designed to strengthen the national startup ecosystem, especially in emerging technology sectors and digital transition technologies.

For three days, between October 7 and 9, Brașov, Sibiu, and Târgu Mureș hosted the first edition of the TECHConnect Technology Transfer Festival, organized by Iceberg+ together with CITT I4T, CIT IRECSON, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, and “G.E. Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș.

Romania’s VC ecosystem is still in a formative stage, but it’s growing steadily. Since the launch of the first dedicated fund in 2012 by Catalyst Romania.

Iceberg+, Romania’s InnoEnergy Hub, invites you to The Business Booster 2025 in Lisbon – Europe’s leading clean tech event for startups, investors, and industry leaders driving the energy transition.

Discover how the inVest Accelerator helps urban mobility startups and ventures access funding, scale faster, and connect with the European innovation ecosystem.

From urban mobility and VR to aerospace and defense tech, the opportunities are there. The big question: can Brașov become a launchpad for the next wave of tech innovators? Read the full article in Transilvania Business Magazine and see why now is the right timing to be bold.

The European Innovation Scoreboard 2025 places Romania near the bottom of EU rankings—despite strong internet access and high entrepreneurial intent. The real challenge lies in structural gaps: low innovation uptake among SMEs, limited collaboration, and declining venture capital. But these weak points are also opportunities. At Iceberg Plus, we’re addressing them through incubators, accelerators, and EU-supported programs. Who else should step up to strengthen Romania’s innovation future?

July 9, 2025 – Start-ups developing urban mobility solutions have just one week left to apply to inVest – Urban Mobility Accelerator, the first initiative in Romania dedicated exclusively to transforming the way people and goods move in urban environments.The deadline is July 16, 2025, at 17:00.

If you're new to the startup world, it can feel like learning a new language—full of acronyms, fancy words, and Silicon Valley slang. Whether you're pitching investors or just want to understand what your co-founder means by “pivot,” this mini-dictionary is here to help.

The international acceleration program for manufacturing startups has officially closed its call for applications.

Iceberg+ invites startups, manufacturers, and local public authorities to INTEK 2025

With over 25 years of experience in consulting and innovation, we understand this distinction clearly