The young people writing
the digital future.

At a time when digitalisation is becoming a universal language, the META-PRO project — Innovation in technology for tomorrow’s professionals, developed by Metaminds — marks one year since its launch, with results beyond expectations: 194 students have completed internships, 32 startups have come to life, and the collaboration with partner universities confirms a visible rise in students’ motivation and involvement.

Education and industry, united in a lab of applied innovation

In a recent conversation on Digi FM, Alexandru Darie, IT Architect at Metaminds and mentor coordinator within META-PRO, describes the project as “a laboratory of innovation” in which students discover what it is like to work in a real team when it comes to putting into practice an application built from scratch:

“Well-defined roles, clear objectives, real deadlines — exactly as in a mature IT product. Students experience both the wins and the blockers of a technology team, learning to think, collaborate and build together.”

The project, co-financed through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) — the Education and Employment Programme (PEO), turns university practice into a complete startup-style experience. Through this approach, META-PRO becomes a bridge between the academic world and the private sector, where theoretical learning is complemented by the practical application of the notions behind an app or business idea, by the guidance of industry mentors, and by an objective assessment based on the concrete results of the applications students develop.

From idea to prototype: results that inspire

After just 12 months, the project has managed to create an ecosystem of applied practice:

• 32 projects developed, born from real needs identified by students — from medical apps and educational platforms to smart solutions for agriculture and digital tools for adaptive reading.
• Dozens of mentoring sessions delivered by Metaminds experts.
• Positive feedback from the partner universities: the Politehnica University of Bucharest (UPB), the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE), the Transilvania University of Brașov (UTBV) and the “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu (ULBS) — which note a significant rise in student involvement.
• 194 students completed their internship, developing digital and entrepreneurial skills, out of a planned total of 252.

For Mihai Spătariu, META-PRO Project Manager, the stakes are clear:

“We are shaping young people who can think, build and transform! Meta-Pro isn’t just an internship project, it’s an exercise in trust — between companies, mentors and students. We give students the framework to experience what work looks like in a technology startup, to take on roles, deliver results and understand the value of collaboration. We had the chance to see how participants transform from one session to the next, from trainees into professionals capable of thinking, building and contributing actively to a functional application.”

Mihai Spătariu

Universities confirm the impact: skills, clarity and confidence

From the academic perspective, Răzvan Crăciunescu, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology at the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, highlights the transformation META-PRO brings to students:

“They gain transversal skills — communication, collaboration, responsibility — but also a clear picture of the professional path. They learn what work looks like in real roles, with a delivery rhythm and responsibility. This kind of exposure shortens integration into the labour market and increases confidence, both for young people and for employers.”

Vice-Dean Crăciunescu closes with a pragmatic call for the new generation:

“Build on a solid foundation, learn constantly, seek out mentors and respect professional discipline. These habits will keep you relevant, whatever the technological waves.”

META-PRO — the lab where education becomes practical experience

META-PRO isn’t just an internship project, but an ecosystem of learning and transformation. In a world where technology changes daily, initiatives that connect education with the reality of industry become essential, and the META-PRO story is living proof that when academia and the private sector collaborate, the results can be truly remarkable.

The project’s success in its first year confirms the need for a real synergy between universities and the private sector.

Metaminds plans a post-internship mentoring programme for students who want to continue their own projects as startups or applied-research initiatives. Through the META-PRO internship programme, Metaminds mentors have seen that modern professional training can no longer be separated from innovation and collaboration. It is a call to action — for universities, companies and students alike — to build Romania’s digital future together.

About Metaminds

Metaminds is a Romanian technology company, founded in 2015, that develops technology solutions for digital services dedicated to public institutions and private companies in strategic industries — telecommunications, energy, utilities, banking and finance, defence and national security. Since 2023, the company has expanded its internal capabilities to cover every functional requirement in complex IT projects, from architecture and security design to the development and operationalisation of software platforms and application architectures, bringing together a team of the industry’s best specialists.

Beyond the technology services it offers, Metaminds invests constantly in developing human capital and strengthening the Romanian digital ecosystem. Through educational programmes and partnerships with academia, such as the META-PRO initiative — funded through the Education and Employment Programme (PEO) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) — Metaminds actively contributes to training future generations of technology and innovation specialists, while supporting the development of Romania’s entrepreneurial environment.