In recent years, Romania’s startup ecosystem has shown encouraging signs of maturity, with new ventures emerging across various sectors and regions. The recently published Forest Assessment, developed under the UnicornQuest programme, provides an overview of the national startup landscape, with a spotlight on the North-West Region as a growing innovation hub. We are honoured that our LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator is featured in the report as a notable example of a successful initiative supporting regional innovation and entrepreneurship. According to the report, Romania is on a promising path to becoming a regional tech hub in Eastern Europe. The ecosystem has grown more sophisticated in recent years, yet challenges remain. The assessment identifies key improvement areas, such as regulatory clarity, increased access to funding, more robust collaboration frameworks, and the importance of nurturing a culture of innovation and mentorship. At a national level, the number of active startups is growing steadily, backed by a strong pool of tech talent, improved digital infrastructure, and increased interest from both public and private sector actors. The Forest Assessment highlights the North-West Region as one of Romania’s most dynamic areas for startup activity. This region combines technical capabilities with a proactive innovation environment, supported by universities, research centres, and strong local and regional institutions. What sets the North-West Region apart: • High potential for growth in Fintech, HealthTech, AgriFood, and Green Energy • Strong involvement from universities and research institutions • Active public and private support mechanisms for entrepreneurs • Regional programmes that effectively connect innovators with resources, such as LevelUP Accelerator by INNO, Bright Labs Incubator by Make IT in Oradea, Startup Reaktor by ROTSA, Cluj Startups and Innovation Labs These elements together create fertile ground for startups to launch, scale, and potentially become global players. One of the report’s most compelling points is the emphasis on ecosystem continuity and the multiplier effect: when successful entrepreneurs give back (by mentoring, investing in, or partnering with new founders) they create a self-sustaining innovation environment. The North-West Region, and Romania more broadly, have an opportunity to build on this momentum by continuing to invest in the conditions that allow startups to thrive, from policy and funding to education and ecosystem connectivity. Explore the full report here: https://www.interregeurope.eu/sites/default/files/2025-05/UnicornQuest%20-%20Forest%20Assessment%20Romania.pdf