Asociatia INIT
FreshBlood HealthTech (part of Asociatia INIT) is based in Cluj-Napoca and is Romania’s leading catalyst for healthcare innovation. Since 2017 it has bridged medicine, technology, and business to elevate the regional ecosystem. As the EIT Health Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) Hub for Romania since 2018, it is a key node in the world’s largest health innovation network.
The organization focuses on:
* Ecosystem Mapping: Produces the Romanian HealthTech Map, cited in national digitalization strategies.
* Startup Support: Runs programs like Hubvantage https://freshblood.ro/hubvantage/, providing mentorship and market access to founders.
* Education: Contributes to projects like Connect (eHealth curricula) and SCI-FI (scientist-to-innovator transition).
Role: Contributes to the project with the connection to the industry and business ecosystemin Romania and Europe and leads tasks like 5.2 – Risk management and quality assurance and 6.3 Stakeholder engagement.
Dr. Ion Gheorghe PETROVAI
Director of Innovation and Co-Founder at FreshBlood HealthTech (Part of Asociatia INIT).
Medical doctor, marketer, community leader and business shaping consultant.
Graduated Human Medicine at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca,Transylvania, Romania. Active for 25+ years in the healthcare field, with growing responsibilities and impact in several multinational companies and then in entrepreneurial projects. Since 2016 focused on improving healthcare through innovation, supporting startups and innovative healthtech projects as Co-Founder of FreshBlood HealthTech. Adjunct Professor at the Department of Public Health of the Babes Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca Ecosystem Development Director of the HIVE - Health Innovation Center. Business development consultant for tech-powered projects in healthcare. Starship Biodesign Fellow of EITHealth since 2017. Angel investor and startup advisor
Medical doctor, marketer, community leader and business shaping consultant.
Graduated Human Medicine at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca,Transylvania, Romania. Active for 25+ years in the healthcare field, with growing responsibilities and impact in several multinational companies and then in entrepreneurial projects. Since 2016 focused on improving healthcare through innovation, supporting startups and innovative healthtech projects as Co-Founder of FreshBlood HealthTech. Adjunct Professor at the Department of Public Health of the Babes Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca Ecosystem Development Director of the HIVE - Health Innovation Center. Business development consultant for tech-powered projects in healthcare. Starship Biodesign Fellow of EITHealth since 2017. Angel investor and startup advisor
Adriana Dunca
Adriana Dunca is currently the Head of Projects at FreshBlood HealthTech, managing initiatives that support healthcare innovation. She oversees the EIT Health RIS Program for Romania, being Project Manager for Hubvantage (startup founders personalized support program), and collaborating as an expert for international projects like DIGIT-PRE and HealthChain. As a psychologist, she works with parents, couples and individual clients.
Adriana is an active patient advocate, psychologist and project manager with entrepreneurial background, experience in designing, coordinating and implementing projects. In 2015 Adriana created the first Romanian support group for parents of children with kidney problems, Kidney Kids, and since then she is helping parents navigate the system for a better outcome.
Graduated from Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences Babeș-Bolyai University (2006), has a Master's degree in Advertising from SNSPA Bucharest (2008), and a Master's degree in Health Psychology from Babeș-Bolyai University Cluj (2020).