Driving Innovation Forward - DevTalks Cluj-Napoca 2026 x BMW TechWorks Romania

On September 24, 2026, we brought Global Tech to the Heart of Transylvania, as Cluj Innovation Park welcomed the 9th edition of DevTalks Cluj-Napoca.

We were still feeling the excitement of a day that brought together 3,000 attendees, 30+ local and international experts, and 20+ partners for a full day of technological insights, knowledge sharing, and networking.

Across our three stages, we explored topics ranging from AI and software engineering to cloud, cybersecurity, DevOps, and Java, examining how technology is reshaping the way we built, worked, and made decisions.

A central theme throughout this edition was how we could adapt to an AI-driven world without losing what made us human. Beyond exploring what technology could do, we discussed the human skills that needed to be preserved and strengthened as it continued to evolve.

Beyond the stages, attendees connected with 20+ partners and exhibitors, while dedicated masterclasses and the Tech Edu area offered additional opportunities for hands-on learning and engagement across generations.

BMW TechWork Romania: Main Partner of DevTalks Cluj-Napoca  

For the second consecutive year, we were proud to welcome BMW TechWorks Romania as our Main Partner. This partnership reflected the value of a collaboration built on shared beliefs: engineering excellence, technological innovation, and the growth of the local tech ecosystem. 

BMW TechWorks Romania is driving innovation in automotive technology through advanced software engineering and digital solutions. With a team of 500+ professionals, the company develops technologies that make BMW’s operations smarter, more efficient, and more connected, contributing to the future of mobility through cutting-edge digital innovation. 

We were proud to continue this partnership and grateful for BMW TechWorks Romania’s contribution to bringing relevant technical perspectives, industry experience, and new opportunities to the DevTalks community. 

Opening the Day with a Conversation About AI and Human Responsibility 

We were pleased to welcome Emil Petru, CEO of BMW TechWorks Romania, to open the Main Stage. His speech introduced ideas that stayed with us long after the event. 

In his opening speech, Emil highlighted the company’s strategic commitment to AI, outlining a vision for integrating it across its operations and software development processes. 

Reflecting on how AI was transforming the engineering landscape, he shared a powerful thought: “Knowledge is our new gold.” He explained that as AI increasingly took over tasks such as code generation, engineers needed to focus on what created real value: understanding business processes, solving complex problems, and bringing unique human skills into the development process. 

Panel Session - AI Everywhere: Where Do We Draw the Line? 

The day kicked off with the panel “AI Everywhere: Where Do We Draw the Line?”, which brought together Georgina Lupu Florian, Founder of Women in Tech Cluj and Founder & Co-CEO of Wolfpack Digital; Levente Tamas, Chair of IEEE Robotics and Automation Society; Tiberiu Cifor, VP of Client Success at Tecknoworks; and Emil Petru, CEO of BMW TechWorks Romania. 

The discussion explored how AI was reshaping software engineering, professional skills, and the future of work, raising important questions about human responsibility, critical thinking, and the balance between automation and human judgment. The panelists also examined how developers could adapt to changing roles, how organizations could maintain effective collaboration as teams evolved, and which uniquely human skills would remain essential in an AI-driven world. 

From BMW TechWorks Romania’s perspective, Emil Petru highlighted the growing importance of understanding business processes, identifying meaningful problems, and orchestrating AI agents to create real value. He also raised concerns about preserving shared knowledge and human connection as AI enabled smaller teams to deliver more. 

The discussion reinforced a central question: as AI took on more of the work, how could we ensure that people remained at the center of the decisions, teams, and innovations shaping our future? 

How AI Closes the Loop from Detection to Recovery 

In his technical session, “Beyond Alerting: How AI Closes the Loop from Detection to Recovery,” Alexandru-Cătălin Diniș, CTO of BMW TechWorks Romania, explored how AI can help engineering teams move beyond monitoring systems to actively resolving incidents. 

He presented a vision for self-healing systems that can predict potential failures, identify root causes, propose fixes, and validate solutions before they reach production. A key principle throughout his approach was maintaining human oversight, with AI-driven autonomy supported by clear governance and safeguards. 

The goal is to close the gap between detecting a problem and fixing it, reducing downtime and manual intervention while making systems more resilient. 

A Buzzing Atmosphere at the Expo Booths 

The expo area was at the heart of the DevTalks Cluj-Napoca experience, buzzing with curious visitors, engaging conversations, laughter, and opportunities to connect. We were delighted to see attendees exploring our partners’ booths, discovering their work, and interacting with the people behind technology. 

The BMW TechWorks Romania booth brought together great energy, meaningful conversations, and a little friendly excitement with its wheel of fortune and prizes worth winning. From surprise giveaways to spontaneous interactions with the team, it created a welcoming space where technology met the community, and every visit offered a chance to discover something new. 

A Stronger Community, Built Through Shared Experiences 

At its 9th edition, DevTalks Cluj-Napoca once again demonstrated the importance of creating spaces where developers, engineers, technology leaders, and companies can come together to exchange knowledge and explore what’s next. 

Partnerships play an important role in making these experiences possible. We would like to thank BMW TechWorks Romania for supporting DevTalks Cluj-Napoca as Main Partner for the second consecutive year, contributing to the conference agenda, and actively engaging with the community throughout the event. 

We also extend our thanks to all the speakers, partners, and attendees who came together to make the ninth edition possible. 

We look forward to continuing to bring the tech community together, creating space for meaningful conversations, practical knowledge, and new ideas that move the industry forward.