Interview with: Marius Mitroi, UNITE project manager at UEFISCDI

This article is part of the “Behind the Scenes” series, in which the UNITE project partners introduce themselves and explain how they will contribute to the transformation of European healthcare.

What motivated you to join the UNITE project, and how does it align with your personal or professional goals?

As a representative of UEFISCDI, Romania’s funding agency for research and innovation, our motivation to engage with the UNITE project stems from our commitment to supporting initiatives that promote scientific excellence, cross-border collaboration, and sustainable development. The project's mission to unite regional ambitions and capabilities to enhance health, wellbeing, and economies aligns closely with UEFISCDI’s vision of fostering transformative research that addresses the pressing challenges of our time.

Through the UNITE project, we aim to support initiatives that leverage digital technologies to improve the quality of life and create sustainable economic growth. The UNITE project also aligns with UEFISCDI's strategic goals of fostering cross-border partnerships, advancing digital transformation in healthcare, and encouraging the use of innovation to enhance social welfare. Furthermore, the UNITE project aligns with UEFISCDI's strategic goals of enhancing the visibility of Romanian research, promoting excellence in innovation, and supporting projects that encourage long-term societal benefits.

On a personal level, I believe that meaningful engagement in projects like UNITE can bring about positive societal transformations, and I am eager to contribute to a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to making a tangible difference. The project aligns with my goal of fostering cross-cultural dialogue, increasing access to opportunities, and supporting collaborative frameworks that shape a better future for all.

Can you tell us about your team's expertise and how it contributes to UNITE's mission of transforming healthcare through digital innovation?

What are the most pressing healthcare challenges in your region, and how do you believe the UNITE project will address them?

In our country, several pressing healthcare challenges hinder progress, notably the skilled labor exodus, which leads to shortages in healthcare professionals, and the lack of synergy between health and innovation policies, which limits the integration of new technologies into the healthcare system. While there are other challenges, not all can be directly addressed through the UNITE project. However, the project’s focus on digital innovation provides significant opportunities to address key priorities in healthcare.

First and foremost, UNITE will contribute to developing health solutions aimed at managing the disease burden and ensuring high-quality care. By promoting the use of digital tools and collaborative approaches, the project will help optimize healthcare delivery, reduce inefficiencies, and ultimately improve health outcomes, especially in underserved areas. Additionally, UNITE’s emphasis on promoting sustainable healthcare industry innovations aligns perfectly with our need to foster a more resilient and forward-thinking healthcare ecosystem. Moreover, future projects funded through UNITE open calls can help address significant geographic disparities in health outcomes. By leveraging digital tools, telemedicine, and remote healthcare solutions, the project will bridge gaps between urban and rural areas, providing more equitable access to care, particularly for populations in remote or economically disadvantaged regions. In this way, UNITE will ensure that social, economic, and geographic factors no longer hinder access to essential healthcare services. Also, by focusing on innovation, the project will support the adoption of digital technologies that support long-term sustainability and improve the efficiency of healthcare systems. This will play a critical role in overcoming some of the country’s challenges, such as limited resources and fragmented healthcare services, while fostering a stronger connection between policy development and technological advancement.

How do you ensure that ethical considerations and patient privacy are prioritized in the development of new healthcare technologies?

At UEFISCDI, we prioritize ethical considerations in the development of all our financial instruments and policy recommendations, includigin those targeting the development and use of new healthcare technologies. We adhere to strict guidelines and frameworks that ensure compliance with both national and international standards, which includes the implementation of data protection measures aligned with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other relevant privacy laws to safeguard patient information.

We also integrate recommendations on corporate digital responsibility into our financial instruments. This involves fostering a culture of accountability and transparency, where project partners and stakeholders are committed to ethical practices, responsible data usage, and the long-term social impact of healthcare technologies. Corporate digital responsibility ensures that healthcare innovations are developed and implemented with the utmost regard for privacy, equity, and sustainability, guiding companies to act in ways that benefit both individuals and society at large.

Additionally, ethical considerations are integrated into every phase of the project lifecycle, from research and development to deployment and monitoring. As part of the UNITE project, we place a strong emphasis on promoting transparency, accountability, and fairness in the development and application of digital health technologies. By fostering responsible innovation, we aim to ensure that emerging technologies not only improve healthcare outcomes but do so in ways that are ethical, equitable, and respectful of patient dignity and rights.

Moreover, whenever is needed, we engage stakeholders in dialogues to ensure that their needs and concerns regarding privacy and ethics are fully addressed throughout the projects. This approach fosters trust and ensures that healthcare technologies can be safely integrated into everyday practice.

How do you plan to engage with other consortium partners to ensure the smooth implementation of innovative solutions across regions?

To ensure the smooth implementation of innovative solutions across regions, UEFISCDI plans to engage with other consortium partners through a collaborative and coordinated approach. Effective communication and strong partnerships will be the cornerstone of our strategy. We intend to foster an environment of transparency, mutual respect, and knowledge-sharing, ensuring that all partners are aligned with the project’s goals and objectives.

We will establish clear channels for regular communication and updates, both at the operational and strategic levels. This will include virtual meetings, emails, open-dialogue and constant contact between our team and the partners to discuss progress, identify challenges, and propose solutions in a timely manner.

Additionally, UEFISCDI will actively participate in joint planning sessions to align regional objectives with the overall goals of the UNITE project. We will work to understand the unique needs of each region and collaborate with partners to adapt innovative solutions to local contexts, while ensuring scalability across multiple regions.

Moreover, we will coordinate efforts to leverage regional strengths, pooling resources and expertise to overcome common barriers. By involving all stakeholders—researchers, policymakers, and healthcare providers—in the decision-making process, we aim to ensure that the solutions we implement are both effective and sustainable in the long term. Through these concerted efforts, we will create a unified approach that facilitates the successful rollout of digital health innovations across the regions, ensuring that the project’s objectives are met and its impact maximized.

How do you plan to involve local stakeholders, such as healthcare providers or policymakers, in the success of UNITE?

Involving local stakeholders, such as healthcare providers and policymakers, is essential to the success of the UNITE project. At UEFISCDI, we recognize that their active participation is key to ensuring that the innovative solutions developed through the project are both relevant and sustainable in real-world settings. Our approach will include engaging local stakeholders early in the project through surveys, consultations, workshops, and events, allowing us to gather valuable insights on regional healthcare needs, challenges, and priorities. Healthcare providers will be contacted and kindly asked to be involved in pilot projects, testing new technologies and providing feedback on their effectiveness and user-friendliness. This collaborative approach ensures that solutions are practical and can be integrated into daily healthcare practices seamlessly.

Policymakers will play a crucial role in shaping the regulatory and policy framework that supports the scaling and adoption of digital healthcare solutions. We will work closely with all ministries in Romania, with regional development agencies and other governmental agencies to ensure that the project aligns with existing health policies and that any barriers to implementation, such as regulatory hurdles or funding constraints, are quiclky identified and addressed as much as possible.

We will also facilitate ongoing dialogues between local stakeholders and project partners, ensuring that the voices of healthcare providers and policymakers are heard throughout the project lifecycle. By fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration, we will ensure that the solutions developed through UNITE are not only effective but also widely accepted and implemented in local healthcare systems.