On 14 May, starting at 2 p.m., the launch of the National Project “Romania of Knowledge”, initiated by the Romanian Academy of Scientists, the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, under the aegis of the “Elite Forum of Ideas and Solutions”. The event took place in the Aula of the “Carol I” Central University Library and was attended by a select group of academics, rectors, researchers, representatives of statutory institutions and the diplomatic corps accredited in Bucharest. The event was chaired by Prof. Dr. Ing. Adrian Badea, President of the Romanian Academy of Scientists, Prof. Viorel Jinga, Rector of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” and Mihnea Costoiu, Rector of the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest.
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The “Romania of Knowledge” project is dedicated to development of the country through education, science, research and technology, vectors of progress and evolution of the economy, society and civilisation. The project aims to achieve a national framework for debate, a think-tank bringing together representative personalities from each field involved, from home and abroad, scientists, researchers, academics, experts and specialists, decision and policy makers, a synergy of creative and innovative intelligences. Within this elite forum of ideas and solutions, subsumed under the objective sustainable development will address areas and themes fundamental to Romania’s development process through knowledge.
Areas and thematic coordinates on which it is structured Project “Romania of Knowledge” are the following:
- Education, Research, Innovation;
- Communications, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence;
- Efficient and sustainable development; Re-industrialisation;
- Efficient and organic farming;
- Health;
- Culture, civilisation, spirituality;
- Energy and mineral resources;
- Human resources; Social policies;
- Ecology, Environment, Climate change;
- Defence, public order and national security.
Conf. Dr Mireille Rădoi, Director General of the “Carol I” Central University Library, as host of the event, said that the “Romania of Knowledge” project is “a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, an elite forum of ideas and solutions that is much needed”. The project, which will bear fruit in the years to come, has the potential to become “a real cultural-scientific landmark of the Romanian space”. In this context, he praised the long-standing partnership between the “Carol I” Central University Library and the Romanian Academy of Scientists, expressing his wish for its development.
Prof. dr. eng. Doina Banciu, Vice President of AOSR and Director General of the Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research “Constantin Angelescu” of AOSRsaid that the launch event has a special significance, given the potential of the AOSR initiative to become a true Country Project. In a changing world at all levels, we need a process of qualified reflection if we are to play a role as a country. The project “brings together the bright minds who have something to say about the future of Romania.” Referring to the idea of the Project, he underlined the merit of Prof. Dr. Eng. Adrian Badea, President of the Romanian Academy of Scientists, for initiating the Romania of Knowledge Project. The project has as institutional partners two leading universities, the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, and a number of prestigious academic institutions as collaborators, which shows the interest of the academic environment for it. “We need decisions based on science and knowledge, without political implications or contextual interests”, concluded the AOSR Vice-President.
Prof. dr. eng. Adrian Badea, President of the Romanian Academy of Scientists, who came up with the idea of the Project, said that the history of mankind is a history of the evolution of knowledge and that emerging and disruptive technologies, Artificial Intelligence will change everything, our behaviour, society and the world. Therefore, as individuals and as a society, we must be prepared through learning and knowledge in this process. Based on the series of national debates initiated by AOSR in 2016, the idea of a National Project was born, which would constitute a working group, a think-tank at the disposal of decision-makers, providing public administration, Parliament, Government, SMEs and other institutions with qualified opinions on key issues of Romania. The “Romania of Knowledge” project is a Romanian project, structured on 10 action lines, which includes working groups of academics and specialists in each field. The project is co-initiated by two prestigious universities, Politehnica and UMF “Carol Davila”, constantly present in the top 5 of all national university rankings and a growing number of partners and collaborators: universities, research institutes, institutions. The interest generated by the Project at the highest level of the statutory institutions is shown by the messages of support received from the Prime Minister of Romania, from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Research, from the Education Committees of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies and from other forums. Education and research are the victory of knowledge over ignorance, and countries that have invested in education are developed countries. “Knowledge is the engine of development, that is why Romania’s development must be conceived on Knowledge, this is the thesis and direction of our Project”, underlined the President of AOSR, who ended his speech with a quote from Shakespeare: “Ignorance is the curse of God, and Knowledge the wing with which we fly to Heaven”.
Prof. Viorel Jinga, rector of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, presented the Global Knowledge Index, under the aegis of the UN, and analysed Romania’s position in its various sections. The conclusion of the analysis was that we need to have a strategy to overcome ignorance and focus our efforts to increase Knowledge in Romania. Within the framework of the Project, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said the rector, will collaborate in its specialist fields with both the Romanian Academy and the Academy of Medical Sciences.
Mihnea Costoiu, rector of the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, said that the “Romania of Knowledge” Project is a necessary vision for Romania and an initiative that he would like to see extended to the Romanian academic and research world, to our society as a whole, welcoming the fact that many Romanian universities are already participating in the Project. The Rector presented a situation of the reality and developments in the Romanian labour market and economy, which supported with official figures and statistics the need for development through knowledge of the country.
Prof. Sorin Cîmpeanu, Vice-President of the Romanian Senate, President of the National Council of Rectors, President of the AUF (Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie), rector of the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest, said that “Romania of Knowledge” is a project with great potential in the process of Romania’s development in a period of great technological and societal change. The President of the NRC expressed his full support and confidence that it will be a successful Project that will turn potential into reality and contribute to building a Romania of Knowledge. In this context, he paid a tribute to Professor Gheorghe Câmpeanu, former member of the Romanian Academy of Scientists.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu sent a message of appreciation and support for the Romania of Knowledge Project, which was read out by State Counsellor Andrei Ioan Ungar. The Prime Minister considers that the AOSR Project is “a benchmark of the future vision of the Romanian academic world”, that it represents a “vision for a country in which education, research and innovation must be an engine of progress”. Through the collaboration of the three institutions and our joint effort, we are ready to bring changes in the lives of all Romanians, the head of the Romanian Government added in his message.
Prof. dr. eng. Tudor Prisecaru, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitisation, stressed the need for the project and said it was a very good initiative that should be generalised to the whole of society.
Prof. dr. eng. Valeriu Tabără, President of the Gheorghe Ionescu-Sisești Academy of Agronomic and Forestry Sciences, said that a very clear analysis of Romania’s economic situation was needed, which the Romania of Knowledge Project should take into account. In doing so, the economic effect of the research must be taken into account. Scientific support is needed in all research and change programmes and processes. The Romania of Knowledge project is a national programme, but without political meaning, he added.
Prof. Mircea Beuran, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, stressed the importance of research as a factor of development, a process in which we must preserve national elements, and appreciated the Romania of Knowledge Project as a project of national scope, dedicated to the development of the country. Such a project cannot fail to include health, which is why ASM joins, as a partner, “this elite forum of ideas and solutions that will support sustainable development”.
Nicolae Marius Mărginean, Director General of the Horia Hulubei National Institute for Research and Development in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, said that the Institute and its team of researchers will respond and are ready to contribute to the Romania of Knowledge Project.
Cătălin Nae, Director of the Elie Carafoli National Institute for Aerospace Research and Development, said that the Romania of Knowledge Project represents a vision that needs action and that it is a space for “Knowledge, but also for Recognition of merit and value”.
Prof. Alexandru Sălceanu, Director of Doctoral Schools at the Technical University Gheorghe Asachi, Iasi, said that the AOSR Project is an approach with vision for the sustainable future of Romania and expressed the full support that Iasi academic will give to the Project.
A special guest at the launch event of the Romania of Knowledge Project was Ambassador of Albania to Romania Her Excellency Mrs Enkeleda Mërkuriwho spoke about the fact that the “Romania of Knowledge” Project can be a framework for collaboration between the two countries and for the transfer of experience and expertise from Romania to Albania. Ambassador stressed the importance of education and research in the development process, said that women are a force of society, which must participate in its progress and advocated the promotion of mutual interests, cooperation and transfer of good experience of the Romanian side.
The launch event of the Romania of Knowledge Project ended with a musical moment performed by Albanian soprano Arlinda Morava, pianist Adriana Alexandrescu (mezzo-soprano at the Romanian Opera) and violinist Aurelian Isar.
Communication and Public Relations Office of the Romanian Academy of Scientists
Bucharest, 15.05.2024