The Romanian Academy and the Alfa Foundation continue their partnership for excellence in research and launch new academic initiatives to recognise performance
The Romanian Academy and the Alfa Foundation for Health and Education have signed a new partnership agreement, now for the second year running, which extends the programme of scholarships and awards to promote excellence in research. The agreement includes financial and symbolic recognition for researchers in the fields of history, archaeology, epigraphy and social sciences, with the aim of strengthening academic research in Romania. The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Romanian Academy in the presence of prominent representatives of the academic community.
The "ALFA Scholarships for Excellence in Research" project continues to support Romanian researchers with two Excellence Scholarships, each worth 5,000 euros for one year of research. They are intended to honour the legacy of two important figures in Romanian thought and science:
- The "Acad. Şerban Papacostea" scholarship, dedicated to historical sciences and archaeology, honours the exceptional contributions of Acad. Șerban Papacostea, one of the most prominent Romanian historiographers, whose works have added inestimable value to national historiography.
- The "Prof. univ. dr. Lazăr Vlăsceanu" scholarship for social sciences is a tribute to Prof. Univ. Dr. Lazăr Vlăsceanu, a renowned Romanian sociologist, who headed the Department of Sociology at the University of Bucharest from 2008 to 2024 and contributed significantly to the training and development of new generations of sociologists.
In the first edition of the ALFA Scholarships project, the Alfa Foundation offered two research scholarships: one in History, awarded to Dr. Marian Hariuc, and one in Medicine, awarded to Prof. Dr. Alexandru Filipescu.
"We are at the signing ceremony of an agreement that continues a very important cooperation for the Romanian Academy and the Alfa Foundation," said acad. Mircea Dumitru, Vice President of the Romanian Academy. "It is extremely important to have partnerships with the private sector, as an opening to a diversified operating model that complements the funding from the state budget."
The "Prof. Alexandru Avram" award for scientific excellence is also part of this partnership. The prize is awarded by the Alfa Foundation during the solemn session of the General Assembly of the Romanian Academy, in December, at the event "Romanian Academy Awards". The prize, worth 10,000 lei, is awarded for outstanding contributions to the historical sciences, archaeology and epigraphy. In 2023, the prize was awarded to Dr Florian Matei Popescu, renowned archaeologist and epigraphist, for his outstanding work in the field.
"We are proud to continue this partnership with the Romanian Academy and to invest in the values of excellence and innovation," said Mihai Măcelaru, President of the Alfa Foundation. "It is only through the responsible involvement of the business environment that we can contribute to the training of professionals in all fields, so that the Romanian society and economy are prepared for the great changes to come."
The ceremony was also attended by other prominent academic personalities, including Dr. Romiță Iucu, President of the Strategic Orientation Council of the University of Bucharest, Dr. Daniel Cain, Director of the Institute of Southeast European Studies, Dr. Adrian Ionita, dr. Eugen Ciurtin, Director of the Institute for the History of Religions, Dr. Constantin C. Petolescu, Corresponding Member of the Romanian Academy, and Dr. Ana-Maria Vlăsceanu, Vice-Chancellor for Legislation, Compliance, Labour Relations and Public Procurement at the University of Bucharest, daughter of the late Lazăr Vlăsceanu.
About the Romanian Academy and the Alfa Foundation for Health and Education
The Romanian Academy, the most prestigious research and cultural institution in Romania, aims to promote knowledge and academic creativity by supporting excellence initiatives. The Alfa Foundation for Health and Education promotes excellence in health and education through innovative projects and long-term strategic partnerships.
Through this partnership, the Romanian Academy and the Alfa Foundation are creating a solid foundation for the development of Romanian research and for the continued support of excellence in education, health and interdisciplinary research.
