Electrical engineering in Bucharest comes of age
The National Institute for Research and Development (R&D) in Electrical Engineering (ICPE-CA) in Bucharest, Romania, has in recent years been very active in the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). There has been a need to upgrade the ICPE-CA so it could be integrated into the European Research Area (ERA) and realise its full potential. The EU-funded project 'Strengthening of the RDI potential for advanced materials and composites to enhance the performance of the electrical industry' (Indumat) upgraded the facilities and infrastructure of the ICPE-CA to reinforce its R&D capacity. This was meant to enable the institute to more actively participate in EU Framework Programmes and projects. Indumat supplied the institute with cutting-edge science equipment and intensive training for its scientists in notable centres across the EU, significantly raising research capacity in advanced materials relevant to electrical engineering. The project also encouraged young researchers to join the Institute in order to combat brain drain and add healthy diversity. With the project's support, the ICPE-CA's findings were disseminated through conferences, exhibitions and publications. Round tables hosting local and European stakeholders ensured more European involvement in the centre, so did partnerships and innovation-led projects with Romanian and European universities. Overall, the project resulted in enhanced technology transfer, improved management of intellectual property rights (IPR) and more intense involvement in EU Framework Programmes. It led the ICPE-CA to become one of the leading research centres in Europe. Career opportunities at the centre were also enhanced and working conditions improved. Lastly, new research strategies have attracted investment in the field, leading to exploitation of results and much-improved capabilities for Romania in this sector.
