CLUJ-NAPOCA Venture investors closed a record funding round for green infrastructure startups based in the city’s tech hub, led by firms developing smart grid sensors and building energy management software.
Participating funds cited Cluj’s engineering talent pool and municipal tax incentives for companies hiring graduates in renewable disciplines. Three startups plan to open pilot labs near the Tetarom industrial park, partnering with utilities to test equipment in live networks.
Founders said export demand from Western European utilities outweighed domestic contract sizes, prompting plans for offices in Munich and Copenhagen. University officials announced joint master's placements for students working on funded projects.
Economists noted the round does not offset broader manufacturing slowdowns but strengthens the region’s diversification beyond outsourcing centres. Local authorities pledged improved transit links between campus districts and the hub’s new incubator space.