Ovidiu Cimpean

Ovidiu Cimpean is a Romanian MP representing Cluj county, Vice-President of the Commission for European Affairs in the Chamber of Deputies, and one of Central Europe's most active voices at the intersection of policy, innovation, and digital transformation.

With 16 years of public administration experience — from Cluj-Napoca City Hall to Romania's Ministry of Investments and European Projects — he has consistently pushed the boundaries of what cities and governments can achieve with technology. He co-founded the Transilvania Digital Innovation Hub, helped Cluj-Napoca become the first Eastern European city shortlisted for the EU's iCapital award, and led the M100 national platform targeting €1 billion in climate-neutral city investments by 2030.

Before entering Parliament in 2024, Ovidiu served as Secretary of State at Romania's Ministry of Investments and European Projects, overseeing EEA and Norway Grants and directing funds toward sustainability and technological advancement. At Cluj-Napoca City Hall, he was Director of the Department of Local Development and Project Management, where he co-managed the €5.6M "Cluj Future of Work" project — the first Eastern European initiative under the EU's Urban Innovative Actions programme, recognized by the European Commission as a best practice.

He also created and curated the Civic Imagination and Innovation Center (CIIC), a participatory governance platform that has become a model for citizen engagement across Romania.

Ovidiu holds a PhD in International Relations and European Studies, a Master's degree in Compared European Political Studies, and a Bachelor's in Political Sciences — all from Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

• European Affairs & EU Policy
• Digital Transformation & Smart Cities
• Innovation Ecosystems & Digital Hubs
• Climate-Neutral Urban Development
• Participatory Governance