AGERPRES special correspondent Nicoleta Gherasi reports: Digitalisation, and cybersecurity in particular, is one of the few technological niches in which Romania and the European Union have an opportunity to develop products and brands with global reach, says Enevo Group CEO Cristian Pirvulescu.

'The niche where Romania and Europe can compete in the technology market is digitalisation, and this cannot be achieved without the cybersecurity segment,' Pirvulescu said while attending the CIGRE 2026 Paris Session, one of the most important international events dedicated to the power sector.

He highlighted the difficulty of closing the gaps accumulated by Romania in traditional technology industries and identified cybersecurity as an area where genuine opportunities for development and competition on international markets still exist.

'These exhibition stands are packed with suppliers of primary technology and hardware. We cannot close a decades-long gap because the industry is dominated by strong brands that have an established market presence and certifications. Starting to produce in Romania today what they have been making for decades is simply too late. I am not even talking about the renewables industry... Of course, we can start producing photovoltaic panels now, and building a factory is not difficult; we can obtain financing, perhaps a grant or a support scheme from the European Union. The problem is: who would buy these products today? Because the first thing an investor does is conduct technical and commercial due diligence on the project. (...) You need to demonstrate references, certifications and an installed base. So the problem is not building a factory; it is capturing the market and building a viable commercial brand. However, the niche that still offers opportunities, both for Romania and the European Union, as well as for us as a company, revolves around the industries of the future, all of which have digitalisation and automation as a pivotal element. (...) So many structural changes have taken place over the past two or three years that digital development is becoming technological development. Cybersecurity, an essential segment of digital technology, gives you access to global market opportunities because the global market still does not offer enough solutions,' Cristian Pirvulescu explained.

In his view, access to the global technology market cannot be built solely on the advantage of geographical positioning. Companies seeking to compete internationally must develop competitive products, meet quality standards, demonstrate commercial dynamism and, above all, build a brand capable of operating in global markets.

'In my opinion, in order to compete in the technology market, it is not enough to operate within geographical borders; you need the right approach, quality, dynamism and international branding. If we look around at all the exhibitors' stands at CIGRE, we see only international brands targeting the global market,' Pirvulescu said.

In this context, he noted that the company he heads is consolidating its own technology development strategy, building on its experience in energy infrastructure and moving towards the development of proprietary software products and solutions.

'Enevo started out as a power and automation solutions integrator. Over time, it developed into an EPC contractor. Today, we are developing an EPC+ concept. The plus means that we can provide complete post-construction services for the technical and commercial operation of power plants and substations once they have been commissioned. (...) The energy sector is undergoing an acute process of technological transformation, and the evolution is clear: the proliferation of renewable energy projects, the accelerated digitalisation of the grid, structural changes requiring new control-command and protection systems to ensure resilience in system operation, and much more. In this context, Enevo is developing its capacity to produce proprietary technology. One such product is SentryOT, the cybersecurity software we are presenting at CIGRE. We also have other proprietary software products in our portfolio targeting transmission and distribution system operators and power producers, which are due to be launched. Clearly, our backbone, our DNA, is the construction of energy infrastructure projects, but we are moving from a traditional EPC model towards becoming a technology provider,' Cristian Pirvulescu said.

At the CIGRE 2026 Paris Session, Enevo Group presented the company's full range of services and expertise at its own stand, with the SentryOT cybersecurity platform at the centre of its offering. During the event, the company organised dedicated workshops, presentations and live demonstrations of the platform, focusing on the specific cybersecurity challenges facing energy infrastructure and operational environments.

Approximately 15,000 experts from 100 countries are attending the CIGRE 2026 Paris Session from August 23 to 28 to discuss the key challenges arising from the rapid electrification and transformation of energy systems.

The 2026 edition is focusing on issues that are critical to the future of the energy sector: the impact of artificial intelligence and data centres on power systems; lessons learned and response measures following recent large-scale power outages; grid-forming technologies, which are essential for integrating high shares of renewable energy without compromising grid stability; developments in electricity markets and flexibility mechanisms; cybersecurity; and infrastructure planning. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Tilica; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)