Romanian Parliament Launches Trusted Tech Caucus in Partnership with the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue

Cross-Party MPs Unite to Harness Tech for Economic Growth and National Security

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA, March 20, 2025 – Prominent Members of the Romanian Parliament representing diverse political parties, joined by the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue University, the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator, announced the official launch of the first-ever Parliamentary Trusted Tech Caucus.

This group of legislators will work together across party lines to ensure Romanian citizens, businesses, and the country’s national security interests benefit from transformational technological advances and are defended from weaponization of technology by authoritarian regimes and criminal actors. Trusted Tech Caucus members, supported by the Krach Institute’s global network of experts, will meet regularly to strategize, develop solutions, hold hearings, and become a source of knowledge in this realm for other Members of Parliament.

The announcement is part of the Krach Institute’s broader effort to build the Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations, and individuals committed to trusted technology. Romania’s Trusted Tech Caucus will be integrated into a broader international network of legislative groups focused on trusted technology, including similar caucuses across the free world. This network will facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing on how like-minded countries utilize advanced technologies for freedom.

To mark this historic moment, the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue hosted an exclusive briefing for Members of Parliament and industry leaders at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest. Len Khodorkovsky, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Krach Institute, and Alexandru Nazare, Board Member of the National Bank of Romania and President of Paneuropa Romania, convened this event focused on the importance of the innovation, deployment, and adoption of trusted technology in Romania, the Black Sea region, and beyond.

Alexandru Nazare was joined in the discussion at the Parliament by several other members of the Krach Institute’s Advisory Council including Amb. Adrian Zuckerman, former U.S Ambassador to Romania, Radu Piturlea, Executive Chairman of Concelex, and Brig. General (Ret.) Dr. Catalin Constantin Mihalache, Founder and CEO of B2S Black Sea Strategies.

“Technology is integral to Romania’s future—its economic growth, its national security, and its leadership in the Black Sea region,” said Len Khodorkovsky. “Trusted technology will underpin about three-quarters of global GDP in tomorrow’s economy. The creation of Romania’s Trusted Tech Caucus is a critical step in ensuring that emerging technologies are harnessed to strengthen Romania’s democracy. By fostering a strong, trusted tech ecosystem, Romania will not only advance the interests of its people but also contribute to a safer, more resilient global technological landscape.”

“To enhance its competitiveness, Romania must urgently bridge the digital and innovation gap. The expertise and network of the Krach Institute, harnessed through the creation of the Trusted Tech Caucus in Parliament, connects us to global tech trends and facilitates venture capital investment in Romania,” said Alexandru Nazare. “However, merely being connected is not enough. Actively embracing the global movement for responsible, secure and democratic technology policies is essential, but positioning ourselves as a leader in this new technological era by actively contributing to it is even more critical. We must aim high. Achieving this vision requires a coherent strategy and a streamlined, single-window system that effectively promotes economic interests through international collaborations.”

The following MPs are the inaugural members of Romania’s Trusted Tech Caucus (in alphabetical order):

• Ovidiu Cîmpean (MP, PNL)
• Corina Ene (MP, PSD)
• Mihai Ghigiu (MP, PSD)
• Antal Lóránt (MP, UDMR)
• Florin Manole (MP, PSD)
• Ștefan Pălărie (MP, USR)
• Robert Sighiartău (MP, PNL)
• Diana Stoica (MP, USR)

Dan Cîmpean, Director of Romanian National Directorate for Cybersecurity (DNSC), joined the inaugural meeting of the Trusted Tech Caucus in support of the initiative.

The Romanian roadmap in the Digital Decade Country Report of the European Commission outlines key 2030 targets for the tech sector: 5,000 innovative digital SMEs, a 2% GDP contribution from innovation and 4 Romanian-founded unicorns with global reach and a base in Romania.

Romanian business leaders, representing industry-leading tech companies, and academic experts joined the event in support of the Trusted Tech Caucus. Executives from Google, Oracle, Samsung, Concelex, CrowdStrike, Maguay, Cluster Power, and others emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration in optimizing technological progress, growing Romania’s economy, while protecting national interests.

As part of its ongoing support of the caucus, the Krach Institute will provide training to Romanian MPs through its Tech Diplomacy Academy, the world’s first and only online education platform in this critical field. Among its adopters are the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce, NATO, and major private sector companies now educating their personnel on the intersection of tech, business, and policy.

Romania’s Trusted Tech Caucus will be integrated into a broader international network of legislative groups focused on trusted technology, including similar caucuses across the free world. This network will facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing on how like-minded countries utilize advanced technologies for good.

“In the global environment of multiplied threats, technology continues to be the main vehicle for empowerment. Pooling resources between trusted allies will ensure technological supremacy and advance shared interests. This is the first time in human history that tech diplomacy becomes the most relevant field of negotiations for our collective security, prosperity and wellbeing,” said Prof. Clara Volintiru, Regional Director for the Black Sea of the German Marshall Fund of the United States and a member of the Krach Institute’s Advisory Council. “The Romanian Trusted Tech Caucus demonstrates how political leaders can remain vigilant in these global conversations and aware that they must stand firmly on the side of their allies.”

With the launch of the Parliamentary Trusted Tech Caucus, Romania has demonstrated bold leadership and commitment to ensure and advance the freedom of the Romanian people.

About the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue:

The Krach Institute is the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator. As the leader in the new category of Tech Diplomacy, the Institute integrates technology expertise, Silicon Valley strategies and foreign policy tools to build the Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations and individuals to accelerate the innovation and adoption of trusted technology and ensure technology advances freedom.

Visit the Krach Institute online at TechDiplomacy.org and follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. Enroll in the Tech Diplomacy Academy to learn what you need to know now about key emerging technologies and their impact on business, policy and the global economy. Subscribe to the Institute’s weekly newsletter Tech Diplomacy Now for the latest news at the intersection of high tech and foreign policy.

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For more information, please contact Megan Stencel at megan@javelindc.com or (703)-490-8845.