The purpose of this approach is to develop artificial intelligence in a responsible manner, considering the risks and benefits of large-scale implementation of this technology, as well as respecting fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Artificial intelligence is a cross-sector technology and its development depends on the coherence of public and private approaches through their depoliticization and through a broad societal consensus. AI represents a unique chance for Romania, our country having all the ingredients to become a leader in this field.

Dragoș Preda, Secretary of State for Electronic Communications within the Romanian Ministry of Transport Infrastructure and Communications (MTIC).

The activity of AI4RO follows a series of fundamental principles:

1. Responsible AI – Responsibility and balance between the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence, especially considering the risks that may affect fundamental human rights and freedoms.
2. Open Data – Introducing and promoting the concept of digital data governance, especially the benefits of an open and shareable data structure, as well as the key role that this concept plays in the development of tangible applications of AI.
3. Balanced labour market – A constant concern for the Romanian labour market by analysing and preventing the side effects that artificial intelligence can have on it, as well as the development of skills for a labour market which is dynamic and complementary to artificial intelligence technologies.
4. Stimulus for economic development: Using AI to reduce the development gap between Romania and the European Union and OECD member countries.
5. Unique advantages ​- Romania has multiple competitive advantages that can transform it into a regional and international actor in the field of artificial intelligence, especially on the following levels:
   1. A larger base of hardware and software engineers, as well as programmers with the potential to transition in AI, when compared to other countries in the region
   1. Opportune geographical positioning, with the potential to develop ultra-fast communications networks and for regional and international interconnection
   1. The potential to develop public-private partnership projects with international companies developing AI technologies, given the membership of the European Union and given the strategic partnership with the United States and the possibility of attracting important public and private funding given the potential of a qualitative and quantitative leap major of the AI industry in Romania

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“Video games have not been a marginal phenomenon for a long time, as evidenced by the global numbers that show that the video game industry has surpassed in value those of music and film together. The popularity of the video games is very high in Romania as well, but there were no concrete figures about the Romanians’ relationship with them. The Romanian Video Game Developers Association comes, for the first time, with significant data that shows how many Romanians dedicate time to this environment. It is the first study that, certainly, in the coming years can be improved with even more relevant statistical details”.

Cătălin Butnariu, president of RGDA – Romanian Video Game Developers Association

According to the study “Users of video games in Romania”, 7.9 million Romanians play video games, meaning almost 1 in 3 Romanians.

The most popular platforms that Romanians play on are mobile phones (64%), PC / laptops (60%), followed by tablets (20%) and consoles (15.5%).

The most popular games are those on mobile phones (64%), but they are preferred by only 23% of Romanians. Most people prefer to play on a computer or laptop (42%) or on a console (29%).

If you are wondering how much Romanians spend when it comes to purchasing these games, only 45% of respondents are willing to pay for them and buy them from online stores such as Steam, Epic Store (63%) or new from stores (53%) or second hand (27%). The remaining 55% of them prefer to download them from torrents.

It is also interesting that 78 pc of the players who prefer the mobile phone are using the Android operating system and spend about 9 lei per month for games.

Those who prefer console games use Playstation 4 in a proportion of 48%, only 18% prefer Xbox One and 9% Nintendo Switch. These players spend about 46 lei per month on games.

Whether they play in the privacy of their own home (most study participants) or in public transport, or prefer multiplayer games (53%) or single player (47%), adventure games (54%) or strategy games (51%) , 7 out of 10 players have as a main reason to play the desire to relax after a hard day.

You can read the full study here and hence you can find out more about the different categories of players, such as the ambitious player, the multitasking player, the patient player, the rational player, the relaxed and the hurried one, as well as about everyone’s gaming preferences.

In Romania, the lockdown and the alert period generated by the COVID-19 pandemic will determine a double growth rate for this video game market segment. According to estimates, the video game market could reach 560 million lei in 2020.

Romania contributes massively to the development of the video game industry, either from the position of employees of the largest studios in the world, or from the position of game creators. If in 2017 there were only 70 development companies, now in Romania there are over 100 studios that provide this type of entertainment. Among them is EA Electronic, which produces the FIFA game in Romania, declared the most popular video game in the world. The latest edition, “FIFA 2019”, was created in Romania.

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The dimension of the Romanian outsourcing market reached, according to reliable sources, EUR 800 million in 2019, 8% up on the year before.

The estimates show a similar increase of the demand for this year, such as the Romanian outsourcing market could reach up to EUR 1 B in 2020, which would be a record for the country.

Romania is one of the most sought after for business outsourcing services, not only for the affordable prices, but also for their quality. The medium salary in Romania, the average rent for office spaces and the local talent are some of the strong points which recommend Romania for outsourcing to Western companies.

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