PCG Academia is gaining its first customer in Romania, partnering with the ECOIND Institute of Bucharest to implement the latest version of the DSpace scientific repository. The partnership with PCG Academia, will enable ECOIND to upgrade its digital infrastructure, which will improve the management and distribution of research results.

The contract with ECOIND demonstrates the growing popularity of PCG Academia’s services in the Central and Eastern European region, and validates our experience in implementing advanced repositories that support open access, digital archiving of documents and increased visibility of scientific papers.

As a result of the project, the ECOIND Institute will gain a modern tool for managing its extensive collection of ecological and industrial research.

ECOIND Institute

The ECOIND Institute (National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology) in Bucharest, is a leading Romanian research institute focusing on environmental protection, sustainable industrial practices and ecological innovation. The institute was founded in 1977 to meet the growing demand for scientific and technological solutions to environmental problems in Romania.

ECOIND conducts research in areas such as water and air pollution control, waste management, environmental monitoring and eco-technologies. The institute reports directly to Romania’s Ministry of Development, Innovation and Digitization and plays a key role in the development and implementation of industrial ecology standards, providing scientific support to both the public and private sectors.

Education market in Romania

Romania’s education market is undergoing dynamic changes, driven by increasing digitization, systemic reforms and growing demand for modern skills.

Despite some challenges, such as underfunding and the need to upgrade infrastructure, Romanian universities and research and scientific institutes are gradually implementing innovative solutions, such as digital repositories, e-learning platforms and programs aligned with international standards.

There is an increasing emphasis on developing competencies in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields and on collaborating with the private sector in research and development. The education market in Romania is striving to integrate with European trends, while attracting foreign students and investment in scientific infrastructure.

Global migration to DSpace 7

ECOIND’s decision to implement DSpace 7 is part of a worldwide migration of institutions using DSpace to the latest version of the software. The migration is an excellent opportunity for universities and institutes to modernize their digital repositories by improving their accessibility, security and user experience (UX/UI).

By upgrading to the latest version of DSpace, you can take advantage of the latest features such as improved metadata management, increased scalability and better interoperability with other systems. Migrating to DSpace 7 is a complex process and requires close collaboration between technical teams and business stakeholders, as well as excellent knowledge of the differences that exist between DSpace versions.

Growing popularity of DSpace platform

The number of users of the DSpace platform continues to grow each year. What encourages the implementation of the DSpace platform? First of all, it is its versatility and flexibility. The system can be perfectly adapted to the needs of a given institution. It can be both a repository of publications, a full CRIS-type system, or a repository of teaching or cultural materials. The huge number of institutions using DSpace also accounts for its unrivaled development potential. Users and implementing institutions, such as PCG Academia, are creating unique communities and discussion groups, contributing to the development of the DSpace platform’s functionality and tools. The system is also integrated with leading international databases, providing visibility for each institution and performing all major open science tasks.

PCG Academia’s experience and expertise

PCG Academia is the only company in Poland with a Team specialized in implementing DSpace-based digital repositories. Our track record includes projects implemented for some of the largest and most demanding universities in the country, i.e. Warsaw University, Jagiellonian University, as well as abroad (University of Zurich).

Thanks to PCG’s involvement in the DSpace software code development and revision process, conducted within the LYRASIS consortium, we are an excellent partner for institutions facing the need to migrate to the latest version of DSpace.

All universities from home and abroad interested in the professional process of implementation, integration, development and maintenance of the DSpace scientific repository are welcome to contact PCG Academia.

WATCH A VIDEO PRESENTATION OF THE DSPACE PLATFORM