From vision to implementation. The Romanian Cities Summit is where innovative ideas are transformed into concrete strategies. During this two-day event, we will discuss solutions for urban regeneration, novel financing models, and the impact of the creative industries on the local economy. Explore global case studies presented by top-tier experts and connect with the leaders who are shaping the future of our cities today.
Thursday, April 23, 2026
08:00 – 09:00
Welcome and registration
09:00 – 09:30
Opening Remarks
TILIA – Romanian Cities Summit
09:30 – 10:10
Global Benchmarks in Sustainable Urban Design | Foster + Partners
Maximilian Zielinski & Team (TBC)
Senior Partner, Fosters + Partners
10:10 – 10:40
Foster + Partners Team
in dialogue with OAR
Moderator:
Emil Ivănescu President, The Romanian Order of Architects, Bucharest
Alin Hoblea President,The Romanian Order of Architects, filiala Iași
10:40 – 11:10
Coffee break
11:10 – 11:40
Investments of hundreds of millions of euros in things money can’t buy
Raluca Munteanu
Development Director, IULIUS
11:40 – 12:00
Cleaner cities, smarter services
How integrated water, energy and environmental solutions can transform urban infrastructure
Veolia Romania, Partner of Excellence
12:00 – 13.30
Networking | Lunch
14:00 – 14:45
The science of happy cities
and human wellbeing
Charles Montgomery
Urbanist, autorul cărții “Orașul Fericit”
15:15 – 15:30
Coffee break
15:30 – 16:20
10 Things Cities Can Implement NOW
for Better Traffic
Mirko Franzoi
Project Director, MIC-HUB
16:20 – 16:45
The Environmental Platform for Bucharest
Alina Kasprovschi
Director, Bucharest Community Foundation;
Alexandra Maier Ranetti
Sustainability Manager, ING Bank
16:45 – 17:00
Closing Remarks | End of Day 1
Friday, April 24, 2026
08:00 – 09:00
Welcome and registration
09:00 – 09:10
Administration and urban vision
Mihai Jurca, Prime Minister’s Chancellery
09:10 – 09:20
Urban finance and infrastructure
Victoria Zinchuk, Director for Romania, EBRD
09:20 – 09:30
National infrastructure, urban impact
Mariana Ioniță, Secretary General, Ministry of Transport
09:30 – 09:45
Romanian Cities 4.0
Marcel Heroiu
Sr.Urban Development Specialist, World Bank
09:45 – 10:30
PPP financing,
legislative challenges and opportunities
Moderator: Marius Perșenea,
Head of Financing Department, IULIUS
Panelists:
Mihai Jurca, Prime Minister’s Chancellery
Marcelo Castelano, CEO IFC Romania,
Cătălin Jaloba, Head of Real Estate Finance, BCR,
Roxana Frățilă, CMS Romania,
Sebastian Costea, Manager IULIUS
10:50 – 11:20
Coffee break
11:20 – 11:40
Technology as Catalyst for Growth and Transformation
How digital infrastructure and smart city solutions accelerate urban development and PPP delivery
Alexandru Baloi,
Business Unit Director, Vodafone
in conversation with Marcel Heroiu, World Bank
11:40 – 12:35
Affordable Housing Solutions,
Innovative Financing and Delivery Models
Panel Organizer:
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
12:35 – 13:35
Lunch
13:30 – 13:45
Urban Transformation
Through Mixed-Use Developments
Despina Ponomarenco
Founder, Romania Property Club
13:45 – 14:35
Constanța reimagined: urban regeneration of the Oil Terminal area
Concept presentation by Foster + Partners
14:35 – 14:50
Regenerative infrastructure: Rethinking utility networks in the Constanța Oil Terminal area
Liviu Baicu, arhitect Baicons
Laurențiu Mărculescu, director general Baicons
14:50 – 15:20
Today’s Manifesto of Ideas and Leadership
Împreună, astăzi, manifestul orașului.
Thursday, April 23, 2026
14:00 – 15:00
Green & Blue Iași — The Metropolitan Masterplan
Dezbaterea se concentrează pe adaptarea urbană la schimbările climatice, analizând proiecte fanion precum coridorul verde-albastru al râului Bahlui și Masterplanul Metropolitan.
Andrei Bodnar, Architect and Vice President, OAR Iași,
Alexandrina Dinga, Executive President, CIVICA Association,
Adrian Covăsnianu, Geographer, Associate Professor at “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University and founding member/vice president of the Moldova Civic Association
Dan Chelaru, Group Sustainability Officer at IULIUS
15:00 – 15:30
Break
10:00 – 10:15
M100 și strategia coaliției NetZero City de a transforma Iașul într-un oraș neutru climatic până în 2035
International guests:
Gaia Terlicher, University of Pavia,
Eugenio Rodriguez, University of Coimbra
Friday, April 24, 2026
09:00 – 09:15
Opening & Welcome
Mona Nicolici
Moderator, Showcase Stage
09:15 – 09:40
Green & Blue Iași — The Metropolitan Masterplan
A strategic vision for livable, climate-neutral and connected urban futures
Andrei Bodnar
Vicepresident, OAR Iași
Claudiu Salanță
Chief Architect, Cluj County Council
09:40 – 10:00
Places for Ideas, Leadership and Leisure
How workspace design shapes innovation, creativity and leadership
Medaru Architects
APARAT STUDIO
10:15 – 11:15
Global Vision, Local Cities
A conversation between Foster + Partners and local architects on urban regeneration, sustainability and the future of cities
Foster + Partners
in dialogue with Matei Bogoescu,
Partener 4B Architecture
11:15 – 11:30
Networking | Coffee Break
11:30 – 11:45
Irina Schrotter
Romanian Creative Week
11:45 – 12:00
How a Literary Festival Put Iași on the Cultural Map
Origin story, cultural and touristic impact.
Lucian Dan Teodorovici
FILIT
12:00 – 12:15
The Therapeutic City: Film Festivals as Mental Health Catalyst
Cinema as an urban wellbeing tool
Teodora Popescu
Romanian Mental Health Film Festival
12:30 – 12:45
12:45 – 13:45
Networking | Lunch
13:45 – 14:00
Văcărești & What’s Next — The Rise of an Urban Natural Park
From forgotten delta to Romania’s first urban natural park
— lessons in urban biodiversity
Dan Bărbulescu
Director, Bucharest Natural Park Association
14:00 – 14:15
Net Zero Cities Iași — Towards a Climate Neutral City
How administration, academia, business and civil society align on climate neutrality goals
Alexandrina Dinga
Net Zero Cities Coalition Iași
14:15 – 14:30
Dâmbovița Apă Dulce — Multistakeholder Engagement Platform
Building collaborative infrastructure for urban decision-making
Tamina Lolev
Founder, Dâmbovița Apă Dulce
14:30 – 14:45
Green Design as Urban Identity
How Landscape Architecture Shapes Livable Cities
Diana Culescu
Romanian Landscape Architects Association
14:45 – 15:00
REGENERA — Iași’s First Bio-Technological Landmark
A living urban barometer at the intersection of climate strategy and city identity
Adrian Mironescu,
Optimism Works
15:20 – 15:30
Cities for people | reflections and commitments
For the first time in Romania, Charles Montgomery, author of “Happy City” and one of the 100 most influential urban planners in the world, is coming to TILIA-Romanian Cities Summit. Register for free now, places are limited.
