The SustainX project has supported the development and operationalisation of a One-Stop-Shop localisation support system in North-East Romania, designed to meet the needs of regional SMEs, start-ups, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders.
At the same time, Latvia has operated its own independently developed one-stop-shop support agency since January 2026. Although the Romanian and Latvian systems were created separately and have different structures, resources and approaches, their comparison created a valuable opportunity for benchmarking and knowledge exchange.
North-East Romania One-Stop-Shop presented during the Iași launch event
On May 20, 2026, Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ) and Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași (TUIASI) presented the fully operational SustainX One-Stop-Shop localisation support system for the North-East Romania region during an ecosystem event held in Iași.
The event was organised within the framework of the SustainX: Fostering Sustainable Digital Innovation Investment project and marked the achievement of Milestone MS4 – One-stop-shop localisation support system in the North-East Romania region fully operationalised.
The event brought together 51 participants, including representatives of SMEs and start-ups, universities and research organisations, public institutions, clusters, innovation intermediaries, associations and other regional ecosystem actors.
The main objective was to demonstrate that the Romanian One-Stop-Shop is operational, accessible and ready to support organisations interested in sustainable digital innovation.
During the event, DIZ and TUIASI presented:
- The SustainX project and the role of the One-Stop-Shop;
- The operational model of the Romanian support system;
- The available services, resources and support pathways;
- Examples of applied research conducted by TUIASI;
- Opportunities for collaboration, funding and access to expertise.
The North-East Romania One-Stop-Shop functions as an entry point for organisations seeking guidance, resources, connections and specialised services related to sustainable digital innovation.
Through the dedicated landing page, SMEs, start-ups and other ecosystem stakeholders can explore support opportunities and access practical resources, including:
- The SustainX Pre-assessment Tool;
- Project Idea Template;
- Information on funding opportunities;
- Replication and collaboration resources;
- Value-chain insights;
- Access to relevant expertise and support organisations.
The event also created opportunities for discussion between companies, researchers, public institutions and innovation support actors. Participants expressed interest in future support services, bilateral meetings and potential collaboration opportunities.
Benchmarking the Romanian concept with Latvia’s existing One-Stop-Shop model
Latvia has operated a national One-Stop-Shop support portal, Business.gov.lv, since early 2026, providing SMEs, startups, and other stakeholders with a single access point to information on entrepreneurship, public services, business support instruments, funding opportunities, and regulatory requirements. The platform brings together information and services from multiple public institutions, simplifying access to business-related support in one place.
Within the SustainX project, the One-Stop-Shop concept developed by the Romanian partners was shared with the AB Member from Latvia, who represents the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia. A benchmarking and comparative analysis was carried out between the Romanian concept and Latvia’s existing Business.gov.lv model. The exercise identified common features, highlighted good practices, and explored opportunities to further strengthen the Romanian concept by drawing on Latvia’s experience in delivering integrated digital support services for entrepreneurs.
Supporting Sustainable Digital Innovation at the Regional Level
The operationalisation of the SustainX One-Stop-Shop in North-East Romania represents an important result of the project. By establishing a locally adapted support system, SustainX contributes to improving access to innovation services, strengthening the regional ecosystem and supporting organisations in their sustainable digital transformation.
The benchmarking activity with Latvia’s existing model also demonstrates the value of knowledge exchange between regions, while recognising that the two systems were developed independently and respond to different institutional and stakeholder needs.
Following the launch event in Iași, DIZ and TUIASI will continue promoting the Romanian One-Stop-Shop, engage with interested organisations, and provide follow-up support to regional stakeholders.
The Romanian SustainX One-Stop-Shop landing page is available HERE.
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
