Clusters Meet Regions Cluj Napoca 2025

1 – 2 Jul 2025 | Cluj Napoca, Romania

Irina Calugareanu

Associate professor and President MoldCluster

MoldCluster

Chisinau, Moldova, Republic Of

15 profile visitsSpeaker

President of MoldCluster, Associate Professor and researcher in management and cluster development. I connect academia, business and public policy, focusing on cluster cooperation, regional competitiveness and SME integration into European value chains.

My organisation

MoldCluster

MoldCluster

Business Support Organisation

Chisinau, Moldova, Republic Of

MoldCluster Public Association, founded on February 20, 2024, is a national initiative dedicated to fostering regional cooperation, innovation, and sustainable economic development through the consolidation of cluster-based strategies. It plays a pivotal role in strengthening Moldova's industrial ecosystem by facilitating collaboration among enterprises, academia, and public authorities. Currently, MoldCluster unites 8 major clusters across key sectors such as furniture, tourism, agriculture, and agri-food, representing 160 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These clusters are: Souther Shepherds Cluster Wine Production Cluster Table Grapes Cluster Beekeeping Cluster The Dealurile Măgurii Tourism Cluster Digital-Agro Cluster Furniture&More Cluster All these clusters were established during 2022–2023 with the strategic support of UNDP Moldova, and have since gained visibility and credibility through their inclusion on the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP). Notably, five of the clusters hold the prestigious Bronze Label Certification, underscoring their commitment to quality management and international standards.
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About me

Doctor Habilitat and Professor with over 20 years of experience in management, marketing, entrepreneurship, research and higher education. My professional work combines academia, business and public policy, with a strong focus on cluster development, regional competitiveness, SME growth and internationalisation.

Extensive experience in developing and implementing projects, supporting business ecosystems, designing marketing and management strategies, and working with public institutions, companies and international partners. As a researcher and cluster expert, I am particularly interested in strengthening cooperation between business, academia and government, fostering innovation and connecting Moldovan SMEs and clusters to European networks and value chains.

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Skills

  • Research, business, management, marketing

Speaker sessions (1)

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

12:30 - 13:30

2nd Morning Plenary Session

Location:Radisson Blu Cluj

Role of clusters as dialogue partners for the development of regional development policy