The power of research and development for SMEs
On September 19, 2025, the first ECONMATH Conference brought together academics, entrepreneurs, innovation leaders and students to explore the intersection of economics, mathematics, and research-driven business strategies. Representing Egnosis, Dr. Mónika Moga, PhD, shared insights on how Romanian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can effectively leverage research and development (R&D) results to accelerate growth and remain competitive in an evolving digital landscape.
Her presentation, “Innovation in-house: How can SMEs make use of R&D results”, highlighted both statistical evidence and practical lessons from our company’s two decades of experience in data-driven IT solutions.
An empirical perspective: R&D in Romania and beyond
Although the European Union has made significant strides in innovation, Romania still lags behind the EU average in research and development spending.
- According to the European Commission (2023 Country Report – Romania), Romanian business expenditure on R&D (BERD) stands at just 0.29% of GDP, compared to an EU average of 1.47%.
- Overall gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 2.22% of GDP across the EU in 2023 (Eurostat), underlining the gap that Romanian enterprises must bridge.
Despite these challenges, local SMEs increasingly access funding programs and collaborative projects, creating opportunities to catch up with European standards. This context underscores the significance of EU programs, such as Horizon Europe, which offer Romanian companies the opportunity to modernize their infrastructure, adopt advanced technologies, and integrate into international innovation ecosystems.
Why SMEs should focus on research and development – the Egnosis case study
Investing in research and innovation offers SMEs multiple long-term benefits:
- Enhanced productivity and competitiveness through modernized infrastructure, labs, and IT systems.
- Access to cutting-edge technologies that help close the gap with more advanced EU markets.
- Attraction and retention of skilled talent, providing growth opportunities and reducing the risk of brain drain.
- Networking opportunities with universities, research centers, and multinational partners, enabling strategic alliances and export potential.
- Market differentiation by delivering innovative products and services with higher added value.
At Egnosis, these advantages have translated into tangible results. With over 20 years of expertise, a team of 20+ professionals, and successful participation in five Horizon Europe projects, we have developed advanced solutions in bioinformatics, healthcare, and systems medicine. Since joining the EU-funded Horizon Research Programme in 2019, we have demonstrated our capacity to collaborate with leading Western European research teams, while also working to attract expatriate researchers back home to engage in bioinformatics projects under competitive conditions.
At the same time, we aim to set an example for other IT companies by shifting the focus from outsourced work to research and product development, while retaining intellectual property rights in-house and creating sustainable value – particularly in bioinformatics and healthcare. Egnosis stands as proof that SMEs can thrive by embedding research and innovation into their core business strategy. By doing so, they not only strengthen their own market position but also contribute to closing the innovation gap between Romania and the rest of Europe.
We thank Dr. Mónika Moga for her insightful and valuable presentation, which once again emphasized the values and mission of Egnosis in building a sustainable future.
