Romanian researcher Ruxandra Draghia-Akli has been appointed Deputy Director-General of the European Commission and will manage the department for Research and Innovation (DG RTD). She will take the new position starting September 1, 2016, according to an EC announcement.

Ruxandra Draghia-Akli joined the European Commission in 2009 to work in its department for Research and Innovation. Prior to that, she worked for nearly 20 years as a medical doctor and a researcher in Romania, France, and the US. Her last position was a Vice-President of research of a biotechnology research company.

She is currently Director for Health in the EC’s DG Research and Innovation, where she is in charge of a team of some 150 people and a budget of some EUR 1.3 billion annually.

Ruxandra Draghia-Akli is one of four new Deputy General Directors appointed to lead directions within the European Commission. The other three are: Charlina Vitcheva, who will manage the Joint Research Centre (DG JRC), Mario Campolargo - the Informatics department (DG DIGIT), and Carlos Alegria - department for Interpretation (DG SCIC).

Romania has only one other representative in the European Commission’s top management. Former agriculture minister Mihail Dumitru has been a Deputy Director General within the Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI), responsible for General Aspects of Rural Development and Research.

Romania ranks last in the EU for research expenses to GDP

(Photo source: Academia Romana)