On March 4, 2026, the Association of Foreign Employees in Romania (AASR) participated in the DEFNET – Dual-Use Technologies & Defence-Ready Cities Conference, organized within the Smart City Industry Awards (SCIA X) platform and held at Romexpo, Bucharest.
Key topics discussed during the DEFNET conference
The event brought together representatives of public institutions, academia, the technology industry, and the urban innovation ecosystem. The discussions focused on the evolving role of cities and how urban infrastructure is becoming increasingly important for energy systems, mobility, security, and economic development.
Several panels addressed topics related to dual-use technologies, infrastructure resilience, and the need for stronger cooperation between the public sector, private industry, and civil society.
For AASR, participation in this conference was particularly relevant due to the emphasis placed on dialogue and cooperation between different sectors. In a rapidly changing economic and technological environment, urban development, economic stability, and workforce mobility are increasingly interconnected.
The conference also provided an opportunity to follow the strategic discussions taking place within the smart city ecosystem and to better understand current challenges and solutions related to the future development of urban infrastructures.
AASR remains interested in initiatives that encourage dialogue between public institutions, industry and civil society, particularly in areas where technological development, urban resilience and workforce mobility intersect.
For more information about the event and the initiatives discussed during the conference, the official platforms can be accessed below:
- DEFNET – Dual-Use Technologies & Defence-Ready Cities: https://defnet.ro/
- Smart City Industry Awards (SCIA): https://scia.ro/
