World Bank Delegation Visits the Romanian Hb for Artificial Intelligence – HRIA

The Romanian Hub for Artificial Intelligence (HRIA) recently welcomed a delegation of experts from the World Bank, marking a key moment in strengthening international collaboration and acknowledging the progress made so far within the project.

Prof. Adina Magda Florea, Director of the HRIA project, presented the hub’s vision and strategic objectives, emphasizing its role in developing a national ecosystem of excellence in Artificial Intelligence. The project is implemented by the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, in partnership with six universities and eight innovative SMEs.

The visit was organized in the context of the future Black Sea AI Gigafactory, which is Romania’s proposal for a next-generation AI supercomputing hub.

During the meeting, several key topics were discussed:

A meaningful interconnection between HRIA and the Black Sea AI Gigafactory would create massive synergy for Romania. The Gigafactory would provide large-scale AI infrastructure, including high-performance computing, a secure European AI cloud, and support for startups and industrial R&D, while attracting international investments. HRIA would turn this infrastructure into impact by driving AI adoption in industry, developing workforce skills, and ensuring alignment with EU standards and trustworthy AI principles. Through collaboration and community building, HRIA would help transform Romania’s AI potential into real economic and societal value.

If approved, the Gigafactory would be one of the most ambitious AI infrastructure investments in Eastern Europe, worth several billions of euros and aligned with the EU’s strategic technological autonomy goals.

Dacă va fi aprobat, Black Sea AI Gigafactory ar deveni una dintre cele mai ambițioase investiții în infrastructură AI din Europa de Est, cu o valoare de câteva miliarde de euro, fiind aliniată obiectivelor UE privind autonomia tehnologică strategică.