One of 13 international experts - and the first Romanian - in the GCF Institute “Securing the Future of Urban Living” community shaping NEOM, the world's largest smart city.
Smart City Expert · Speaker · Author
Eduard Dumitrascu - I built Romania's smart city industry from zero.
For a decade I've turned the smart city concept into national reality - from idea and financing to implementation and results. I founded and lead the Romanian Smart City Association (ARSC), I'm one of 13 international experts in the GCF Institute community shaping NEOM - the world's largest smart city - and I represent Romania on stage at Smart City Expo Barcelona.
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“We don't observe the market - we build it.”
$500B
NEOM - world's
largest smart city
largest smart city
€2B
projects via the
SCIA Awards
SCIA Awards
10 yrs
building an industry
from zero
from zero
Career highlights
Speaker at the Smart City Expo World Congress and ARSC's strategic partner of Fira Barcelona - the world's leading smart-city platform.
Urban projects worth €2 billion entered into the SCIA - the only Smart City competition in Romania and Eastern Europe.
About
A decade turning the Smart City concept into national reality.
I'm a Smart City expert, speaker and author who has spent the last ten years building beneficial relationships between the public and private worlds - through projects with national impact and international resonance.
In 2016 I founded the Romanian Smart City Association (ARSC), today one of Romania's leading Smart City bodies, with an ecosystem of over 450 members and partners - ministries, local councils, companies, universities and research centers. I also serve as President of The World Smart Cities Organization, a London-based global smart-city organization.
My work reaches well beyond Romania. In 2023 I became one of 13 international experts - and the first Romanian - in the GCF Institute “Securing the Future of Urban Living” community contributing to NEOM, the world's largest smart-city project. I speak at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, where ARSC is a strategic partner of Fira Barcelona, and the Smart City Industry Awards I founded have channeled over €2 billion in urban projects.
I previously served as Secretary of State within the Romanian Ministry of European Funds, and I founded Bucharest Business Breakfast, Smart City Magazine - Romania's first printed magazine dedicated to the Smart City industry - and Smart City Academy. I co-authored the book Smart Cities - From Idea to Implementation (2018). My conviction is simple: a smart city means more than technology - it means understanding how we lift our communities.
“Romania cannot develop without the smart city concept. We need to understand the real needs of communities - and build for them.”
Impact
A decade in numbers.
10yrs
Building the Smart City ecosystem in Romania since founding ARSC in 2016.
450+
Over 450 members & partner organizations in the ARSC network.
1,498
1,498 Smart City & Smart Village projects mapped nationwide via Smart City Map.8 official data sources · 2026
14,000+
Over 14,000 subscribers follow the ARSC Smart City industry newsletter.
What I do
Roles & platforms I lead.
A portfolio of organizations, media and education built to move the entire industry forward.
President & Founder - ARSC
The Romanian Smart City Association: Romania's national platform connecting administration, industry and communities since 2016.
arsc.ro ↗President - World Smart Cities Org.
Leading a London-based global organization focused on the smart city industry worldwide.
Owner - Smart City Magazine
Romania's first printed magazine dedicated to the Smart City industry.
Founder - Smart City Academy
Romania's first academy dedicated to educating leaders and specialists for the Smart City industry.
Former Secretary of State
Romanian Ministry of European Funds - public-sector leadership in financing and development.
Founder - Bucharest Business Breakfast
A networking platform connecting decision-makers from business and public administration.
Member - GCF Institute / NEOM
One of 13 international experts - and the first Romanian - in the “Securing the Future of Urban Living” community contributing to NEOM, the world's largest smart-city project ($500B).
View profile ↗Author - “Smart Cities - From Idea to Implementation”
Co-author (2018) of one of Romania's first books on taking smart city projects from idea to implementation.
Initiatives
Projects with national impact.
Flagship programs of the ARSC ecosystem - from idea and financing to implementation and results.
Smart City Map of Romania
An interactive national map documenting 1,498 modernization projects across 42 administrative units, drawing from eight official data sources (as of 2026).
View on arsc.ro ↗Smart City Industry Awards
The annual national gala recognizing the most impactful smart city projects, leaders and communities in Romania.
STUP Energie
A community platform for local, citizen-driven solar energy production - accelerating Romania's green energy transition.
Smart Finance
European funding consultancy helping cities and companies turn ideas into financed, implemented projects.
National Council of Community Leaders
A national forum bringing together local elected officials to coordinate a shared smart-community agenda.
Smart City Caravan
A mobile campaign travelling across Romanian cities to bring smart city know-how directly to communities.
Section imagery is illustrative. Photography from ARSC programs and events is available on request.
Writing
Articles & analysis.
Essays on why public projects stall, how technology should serve communities, and where Romania's cities go next.
Medium · ARSC
Who We Are - The Romanian Smart City Association
The story, mission and ecosystem behind Romania's Smart City movement.
Read ↗ Selected essaysWhy public projects stall - and 10 years of ARSC
A series on accountability, EU funding and transparency, plus reflections on a decade building Romania's Smart City ecosystem.
Read the essays ↗ LinkedIn newsletterThis Week in the Smart City Industry
A recurring newsletter rounding up the most important moves across the industry.
Subscribe ↗In the press
As featured in.
Independent coverage of Eduard and Romania's Smart City industry.
- The BizzFirst Romanian named to the $500B NEOM smart-city project
- Romania-InsiderUrban projects worth €2 billion entered in the Smart City Industry Awards
- The Diplomat-Bucharest“The only Smart City competition in Romania and Eastern Europe”
- AGERPRES“Romania cannot develop without the smart city concept”
Video
On camera & on stage.
Interviews, talks and the Smart City Romania YouTube channel.
Speaking
Stages & conferences.
I speak internationally on smart cities, EU funding, sustainable communities and public-private collaboration.
Invite me to speakSignature talks
Building Cities for People, Not Just Technology
Why human outcomes - not gadgets - define a smart city, and how to keep communities at the center.
For: mayors, public administration, conferencesFrom EU Funding to Implemented Projects
The practical path from idea and financing to delivered results - lessons from a decade across Romania.
For: local authorities, EU-funding audiencesWhy Public Projects Stall - and How to Fix Them
Accountability, transparency and execution: the structural reasons projects fail, and what actually works.
For: government, industry leadership forums- 2025Smart City Expo World Congress, Barcelona - Speaker
- 2025Smart City Industry Awards (SCIA) - Keynote
- 2025ZF Invest in Romania - Live
- 2024TECH EXPO 2024 - Featured interview
- 2024Rising Cities. Smart Future - Moderator
- 2023GCF Institute / NEOM Knowledge Community - Member (Saudi Arabia)
- 2021GoTech World - Smart City in Romania
- 2019Kyiv Smart City Forum - Speaker
- OngoingUPBizz Entrepreneurship Center (UPB) - Partner & lecturer
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Who is Eduard Dumitrascu?
Eduard Dumitrascu is a Romanian Smart City expert, speaker and author. He is the founder and president of the Romanian Smart City Association (ARSC) and a former Secretary of State in Romania's Ministry of European Funds.
What is the Romanian Smart City Association (ARSC)?
The Romanian Smart City Association (ARSC) is one of Romania's leading Smart City bodies, founded by Eduard Dumitrascu in 2016. It connects over 450 members and partners - ministries, local councils, companies, universities and research centers.
What was Eduard Dumitrascu's role in the Romanian government?
Eduard Dumitrascu served as Secretary of State within the Romanian Ministry of European Funds.
What organizations did Eduard Dumitrascu found?
He founded the Romanian Smart City Association (ARSC), Smart City Magazine, Smart City Academy, and Bucharest Business Breakfast.
What topics does Eduard Dumitrascu speak about?
He speaks internationally on smart cities, EU funding, sustainable communities and public-private collaboration.
How can I contact or book Eduard Dumitrascu to speak?
You can reach Eduard by email at eduard@arsc.ro or via LinkedIn for speaking invitations, partnerships and consulting on smart city strategy and EU funding.
Contact
Let's build something that lasts.
Speaking invitations, partnerships, consulting on smart city strategy and EU funding, or media - I'd love to hear from you.