ROMDEF Launches as Romania's First Defense Industry Patronage Organization
May 27, 2026Bucharest, May 27, 2026 – The Romanian defense industry reached a historic milestone on Wednesday with the official launch of ROMDEF, the Romanian Defense Industry Patronage Organization. Founded as an employers' association dedicated to representing companies active in defense, dual-use technologies, critical infrastructure, and cybersecurity, ROMDEF brings together institutional, economic, and diplomatic stakeholders under a single strategic umbrella.
The launch ceremony featured addresses from ROMDEF's founding leaders and interventions from high-level public officials. Among the speakers were Mihai Coteț, Vice President of the Romanian Senate; Nicoleta Pauliuc, Chair of the Senate Committee for Defense, Public Order and National Security; Andrei Baciu, Vice Chair of the Chamber of Deputies Committee for Defense, Public Order and National Security; Andrei Lupu, State Counsellor within the Prime Minister's Chancellery; Gianina Lazanu, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism; and Cristina Dragomirescu, Vice President of the Romanian Agency for Technological and Industrial Cooperation for Security and Defense.
The centerpiece of the event was the signing of the ROMDEF Declaration – 7 Objectives for a Secure and Prosperous Romania in Europe, a strategic document outlining the patronage's action agenda for the years ahead. The declaration sets forth concrete commitments aimed at strengthening national defense capabilities, fostering innovation, and increasing the competitiveness of Romanian defense companies on both regional and international markets.
The five founding members of ROMDEF are Leviatan Group, Dendrio Solutions, STARC4SYS, Interactive Software, and Ubitech Construcții. During the event, an additional 17 companies signed letters of intent to join the organization, signaling broad industry support for this new collaborative framework.
ROMDEF's Board of Directors is chaired by Catalin Robert P., Founder & CEO of Leviatan Group, as President. Cristian Herghelegiu, Chairman of the Board at Dendrio Solutions, and Ion Cristian Lișman, Vice President of STARC4SYS, serve as Vice Presidents. Marian Ivanescu, CEO of Interactive Software, holds the position of Secretary General, while Vladimir Duhan, Corporate Affairs Director at Leviatan Group, serves as Member, and Laurentiu Mazilu as Executive Director of ROMDEF.
A standout moment of the evening was a live demonstration by the Velocity robotics team from the "Gheorghe Munteanu Murgoci" National College in Brăila, winners of the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship. The performance served as a powerful symbol of Romania's technological potential and the vital connection between education, industry, and innovation — a connection that ROMDEF aims to nurture and expand.