European Academy and the North-East Regional Development Agency of Romania (ADR Nord-Est) have taken another significant step in their ongoing collaboration to strengthen digital innovation capacity in the public sector. From 29 September to 1 October 2025, a third edition of the “Digital Transformation in Public Services | Strategic Tools for Innovation” course was delivered in Thessaloniki, Greece, tailored specifically to the needs of Romanian regional and local authorities.
This third instalment in the training series reflects the growing momentum of a long-term capacity-building effort, designed to equip local governments with practical tools and strategic thinking frameworks to lead digital transformation across institutions.
A Diverse and Committed Delegation
The programme brought together professionals from a diverse range of municipalities and regional authorities, reaffirming the growing demand for strategic upskilling in digital governance across Romania. Participants represented:
- Agenția pentru Dezvoltare Regională Nord-Est
- Primăria Darabani
- Municipiul Bacău
- Primăria Popricani
- Consiliul Județean Botoșani
- Primăria Câmpulung Moldovenesc
- Comuna Țigănași
- Consiliul Local Iași
A Forward-Looking Programme
Through three intensive days, the course helped participants explore the fundamental building blocks of public sector digital transformation, including:
- The differences between digitisation, digitalisation, and digital transformation
- Rethinking public service delivery using platform models and collaborative ecosystems
- Treating public data as a strategic asset for decision-making and optimisation
- Developing minimum viable public services and applying rapid experimentation
- Adapting service design to evolving citizen expectations
- Understanding disruption theory and how it applies to public innovation
Interactive workshops challenged participants to apply theory to real challenges faced within their institutions, while also encouraging cross-organisational dialogue and shared problem-solving.
The training was delivered by Dr. Bojan Lalić, Full Professor at the University of Novi Sad and a leading expert in digital transformation, sustainable business strategy, and industrial engineering. With extensive teaching experience across Europe and Asia, and a strong track record in EU-funded projects, policy advising, and capacity-building initiatives, Dr. Lalić brought a unique combination of academic depth and practical insight to the programme.
Learning from Peers: Study Visit to Central Macedonia
A key highlight of the programme was once again the study visit to the Region of Central Macedonia’s headquarters. The delegation toured the region’s flagship bioclimatic public building, representing sustainable infrastructure aligned with digital innovation.
This time, participants also had the opportunity to engage with members of the IT department, gaining deeper insights into how the region operationalises digital governance and manages technological change. The visit sparked valuable exchanges of experience between the Romanian and Greek teams on public sector innovation, infrastructure management, and cross-border cooperation.
Supporting Institutional Change Through Long-Term Collaboration
This third in-house course reflects more than just a repeat delivery, it signals the strengthening of a strategic partnership between European Academy and Romania’s North-East Region. Through this multi-phase training effort, public sector professionals are being empowered to lead transformation confidently, grounded in both European best practices and local realities.
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