On 1 October 2024, Luxinnovation, Luxembourg’s national innovation agency, and the West Regional Development Agency (West RDA), based in Timișoara, Romania, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalise cooperation between the two organisations. The agreement was signed by Maxim Sorin, CEO of West RDA, and Sasha Baillie, CEO of Luxinnovation.
I welcome the signature of this MoU as the beginning of a productive partnership that will support businesses in their innovation endeavours.
Elisabeth Cardoso, ambassador of Luxembourg in Romania
The signature ceremony was organised in the context of an economic mission from Luxembourg to Romania and took place in the presence of the ambassador of Romania in Luxembourg, Livia Rusu, and the ambassador of Luxembourg in Romania, Elisabeth Cardoso. “I’m particularly pleased with this MoU as I hope it will contribute to opening new avenues for bilateral economic and sectoral cooperation,” Ambassador Rusu points out. “Both sides will benefit: one from best practices deriving from a successful model, such as Luxinnovation, and the other from discovering a dynamic, innovative and enthusiastic business community open to sharing its potential and transform it into bilateral innovation projects.”
Ambassador Cardoso also underlines the importance of the cooperation agreement. “Luxinnovation and West RDA are two essential players in innovation support to Luxembourg and Romanian companies. I welcome the signature of this MoU as the beginning of a productive partnership that will support businesses in their innovation endeavours.”
The cooperation between the two agencies builds on Luxinnovation's decades of experience and West RDA’s ambitious goals for the region.
West RDA is Romania’s first innovation agency, supporting the region’s innovation agenda. In this context, it would like to benefit from Luxinnovation’s experience developed over the past 40 years. The agency supports companies in their efforts to digitalise their activities, innovate and become more sustainable through innovation. Its main missions are to empower companies to innovate today to be ready for the challenges of tomorrow, and to stimulate the development of a sustainable, competitive and digital economy.
Signing an MoU with Luxinnovation is a huge step for West RDA in the efforts to set up the first regional innovation agency in Romania.
Maxim Sorin, West Regional Development Agency
The exchange of experience between the two agencies will be done through study visits, workshops, participation in regional events and information sharing. “Signing an MoU with Luxinnovation is a huge step for West RDA in the efforts to set up the first regional innovation agency in Romania,” says Mr Sorin. “We see this MoU as a validation of our professionalism, and we are grateful for the opportunity to learn from one of the best innovation agencies in Europe.”
“We are very happy that West RDA reached out to us: it is rewarding to be able to share one’s experience and practices, and to contribute to fostering the innovation ecosystem in western Romania,” says Ms Baillie. “Romania is a fast-growing economy with much know-how in industrial development that Luxinnovation can benefit from. The Romanian community in Luxembourg is very active, and Luxembourg has a dynamic cooperation with the Romanian embassy and the Romanian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce. I’m looking forward to deepening our relationship further.”
The two agencies also intend to encourage collaboration between Romanian and Luxembourg companies by sharing information on possible areas of joint interest. In addition, companies from West Romania will be welcomed to major tech events in Luxembourg and introduced to the country’s innovation ecosystem.
The main industrial fields in West Romania, which have experienced significant growth in Timișoara, notably include the automotive industry, electronics and chemical and petrochemical industry. “The automotive and smart mobility sector is well-established and growing in Luxembourg,” comments Ms Baillie. “We are convinced that our regions will have multiple opportunities for cooperation in the future.”
We are convinced that our regions will have multiple opportunities for cooperation in the future.
Sasha Baillie, Luxinnovation
“I’m pleased to have witnessed the signing of the MoU between Luxinnovation and West RDA,” comments Fernand Ernster, Chairman of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce which organised the economic mission to Romania. “This reinforces the collaboration in the innovation space between the two countries. It is complementary to the work that the Chamber of Commerce is doing with its counterparts in Romania, and we are happy to collaborate with Luxinnovation in this regard.”
Mr Sorin thanks Ms Baillie for her constant support and trust. “I hope that her next visit to Romania will be in Timișoara, at the headquarters of the newly created regional innovation agency.”
Photo credits: Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce/ Marius Chitu
