Romania is once again on an upward trajectory in the global startup ecosystem rankings, with Cluj-Napoca and Oradea among the cities contributing to this positive momentum. According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026 published by StartupBlink, Romania has moved up four positions and now ranks 44th worldwide, following several years of consecutive declines. For the North-West Region, these results confirm the consolidation of a strong regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. Cluj-Napoca remains one of Romania’s leading startup centers, ranking 336th globally, while Oradea continues to gain international visibility, reaching 592nd place in the global ranking. At the national level, Romania’s startup ecosystem recorded a growth rate of 32.9%, the second-highest in the European Union, surpassed only by Cyprus. The total value of the ecosystem is estimated at USD 9.7 billion, highlighting the increasingly important role that Romanian startups play in a technology-driven, innovation-based economy. Romania currently ranks 27th in Europe and 20th within the European Union, while holding the second position in the Balkans. One of the most significant achievements is Romania’s first-place ranking in the Balkans for Funding & Capital Availability, an indicator that reflects the ecosystem’s ability to attract and support investment. At a time when access to funding remains one of the main challenges for startups, this performance signals a maturing market and growing investor confidence in innovative companies. Software & Data remains the strongest sector within Romania’s startup ecosystem, where the country ranks 40th globally. At the same time, Romania holds the 19th position in the European Union in the field of Artificial Intelligence, reflecting the rapid development of solutions based on data, automation, and emerging technologies. Bucharest remains the country’s leading startup hub, ranking 112th globally. However, the geographical distribution of the ecosystem is becoming increasingly balanced. Alongside Cluj-Napoca and Oradea, cities such as Timișoara, Iași, Brașov, Sibiu, Craiova, and Târgu Mureș are also represented in the ranking, demonstrating that technology-driven entrepreneurship is expanding across multiple regions of the country. For the North-West Region, the presence of Cluj-Napoca and Oradea among Romania’s top-ranked cities represents more than just a position in a global ranking. It reflects the existence of a regional ecosystem where universities, startups, companies, investors, and support organizations work together to develop projects with economic and technological impact. For us, these results confirm that building a strong startup ecosystem requires collaboration, investment in innovation, and continuous support for entrepreneurs. Through our work at INNO and the North-West Regional Development Agency (NW RDA), we strive to create connections between startups, companies, universities, investors, and public authorities, enabling promising ideas to grow and generate real economic impact. Romania’s progress in the StartupBlink ranking is an encouraging signal, but also a motivation to continue building a region that is more competitive, more innovative, and better connected to European and international opportunities.