Cluj Innovation Days is a leading innovation event in Eastern Europe, celebrating in 2026 its 14th edition, reaffirming Cluj-Napoca and Romania as a dynamic hub for innovation, collaboration, and smart community development.

CID has grown into a recognised industry-driven platform that brings together companies, researchers, policymakers, and innovation actors from Europe and beyond, fostering cross-sector partnerships and new business models with societal impact. The 2026 edition is centred on a defining theme: “Skills in the AI era.”
As artificial intelligence reshapes economies and societies, CID2026 will focus on skills, talent, and capabilities that Europe needs to stay competitive, inclusive, and resilient. The event highlights the human dimension of digital transformation and how people, education, and workforce development must evolve alongside technology.

The event will take place over two days:

• 28 May 2026 – Satellite events, offering targeted workshops and community-driven sessions
• 29 May 2026 – Main conference, featuring high-level panels and networking opportunities

The main conference agenda is structured around key discussions addressing Europe’s priorities in skills, AI, innovation, and talent:

• AI for Society: Opportunities, Risks, and Skills Europe Needs – A strategic dialogue on how AI can create societal value, the risks it brings, and the critical skills required for Europe’s future.
• Building Europe’s Digital Backbone: EDIHs, AI Factories and the AI Continent Vision – A focus on Europe’s innovation infrastructure and collaborative frameworks supporting digital transformation and competitiveness.
• AI and the Future of Work: Skills, Jobs and Europe’s Talent Transformation – A forward-looking discussion on how AI is reshaping jobs, workforce needs, and education systems across Europe.
• Deep Tech, AI, and Future Generations – Exploring the long-term impact of advanced technologies on society and the importance of preparing future generations.

The event will conclude with the Skillab Testathon and Innovation Challenge Awards, showcasing community-driven innovation and practical solutions, with its strong emphasis on skills in the AI era.
CID2026 continues its mission to create a space where innovation meets purpose, bringing together diverse actors to shape a future driven not only by technology, but by people and skills. Be part of the conversation shaping Europe’s future by registering at this link.