About CauseFinder

The next wave of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be centred on extracting deeper structure from observed systems. Built on the rapid development of existing Data and AI technologies, topics such as Multilevel Evolving Knowledge Graphs, Causal Reasoning, Explanation Based Modelling will result in much more efficient solutions than possible today.

The project aims at ground breaking results in theory, methodology and algorithms, especially in the fields of scalable multiresolution causality modelling, scalable probabilistic reasoning, evolving knowledge graph construction from diverse data sources and new insights into innovation ecosystem lifecycle management.

Project Duration

36 months

Project Budget

approx. 1.4 mil. Euro

Implementation

July 2023 – June 2026

Contact

office@causefinder.ase.ro

Mission & Objectives

The long-term perspective of the project lies in interconnection, model development, and understanding of all relevant aspects of the global innovation ecosystem, from the emergence of ideas to their potential implementation in business, as well as decision-making in research policy. The aim is to employ modern artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to support the modeling and analysis of the complex system of the global innovation lifecycle, with specialized approaches at the national level.

Innovation Knowledge Graph

Building an evolving knowledge graph from various data sources connected to a global model.

Causality

Constructing a probabilistic, multi-resolution causal structure of the observed world derived from data streams.

Probabilistic Reasoning

Developing scalable probabilistic reasoning that leverages the integration of knowledge graphs with multiple operators.

Representation Learning for Unsupervised Phenomena and Anomaly Detection

Using existing representation learning to enhance the grounding power of reasoning and analysis techniques for unsupervised phenomena and anomaly detection.

Use Case Validation

Validating the proposed techniques in the field of innovation management.

Our Team

Dumitru Roman
Dumitru Roman
Researcher
Alina Dima
Alina Dima
Researcher
Vasile Strat
Vasile Strat
Researcher
Adriana Davidescu
Adriana Davidescu
Researcher
Giani Gradinaru
Giani Gradinaru
Researcher
Marius Matei
Marius Matei
Researcher
Catalina Chinie
Catalina Chinie
Researcher
Stere Stamule
Stere Stamule
Researcher
Mihail Busu
Mihail Busu
Researcher
Mihai Gheorghe
Mihai Gheorghe
Researcher
Madalina Zurini
Madalina Zurini
Researcher
Cosmin Proscanu
Cosmin Proscanu
Researcher
Diana Agafitei
Diana Agafitei
Researcher
Iulia Ciurea
Iulia Ciurea
Researcher
Octavia Albu
Octavia Albu
Researcher
Tania Puia
Tania Puia
Researcher

Deliverables

Papers Web of Science

  1. Bușu, M., Staicu, G., Gheorghe, M., Prinz, E. and Fonseca, L.M., 2024. Analysing the effects of the business cycle on renewable energy consumption and sustainable development: Evidence from EU countries. Amfiteatru Economic, 26 (Special Issue No. 18), pp.1048–1064. https://doi.org/10.24818/EA/2024/S18/1048. (Q1 IF la momentul publicarii)
  2. Birlan, I., Davidescu, A.A., Tita, C.-E. and Nae, T.M., 2025. Modeling regional ESG performance in the European Union: A partial least squares approach to sustainable economic systems. Mathematics, 13 (15), p.2337. https://doi.org/10.3390/math13152337. (Q1 IF la momentul publicarii)
  3. Avram, A., Lungu, G.M., Avram, C.D., Popescu, L., Tobă, D. and Ciurea, I.C., 2025. Sustainability Reporting in the EU-27: The Impact of National ESG Ecosystems and Organizational Implications. Amfiteatru Economic, 27(70), pp. 957-972. 10.24818/EA/2025/70/957. (Q1 IF la momentul acceptarii spre publicare)
  4. Davidescu A.A., Lobonț O-R, Manta EM, Mihiț LD, Țăran A-M (2025) Crossing chasms: A PLS approach to EU public sector performance assessment. PLoS One 20(6): e0325994. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325994. (Q1 IF la momentul acceptarii spre publicare)
  5. Sorin Anagnoste, Alexandru-Victor Andrei, Vlad Bolovăneanu, Cosmin-Octavian Cepoi, Roxana Clodnitchi, Alexandru-Adrian Cramer, Robert-Adrian Grecu, Stefan Lessmann, Daniel Traian Pele, Alla Petukhina, Vasile Alecsandru Strat, The role of AI in (Re)Shaping energy Finance: A systematic literature review, Energy Strategy Reviews, Volume 61, 2025, 101833, ISSN 2211-467X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2025.101833. (Q1 IF la momentul publicarii)
  6. Novalija, I., Roman, D., Belotti, F., Alexiev, V., Rei, L., Avogadro, R., Khalilvandian, B., Bechev, B., Chinie, C.A., Ciurea, I., Brank, J., Udroiu, C., Soylu, A. and Palmonari, M., 2025. From code to concept: A semantic approach to AI innovation discovery in open source software repositories. IEEE Access. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3590135. (Q2 IF la momentul publicarii)
  7. Grigorescu, P.-C. and Ciurea, I.-C., 2025. Modelling inherent risk of data intensive technologies: Quantitatively-differentiated risk management framework proposal. Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 13(1), pp.296–315. https://doi.org/10.18080/jtde.v13n1.1144. (S2 SCOPUS la momentul publicarii)

ISI Proceedings

  1. Matei, B.F., Grădinaru, G., Neagoe, I.E. (2025). The Evolution of Methodologies and Tools for Monitoring Sustainable Bioeconomy. In: Busu, M. (eds) Smart Solutions for a Sustainable Future. ICBE 2024. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-78179-7_12
  2. Davidescu, A.A., Agafiței, M.D., Strat, V.A. and Dima, A.M. Mapping the Landscape: A Bibliometric Analysis of Rating Agencies in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Vol. 18 (Issue 1), (2024) pp. 67-85. https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2024-0007
  3. Timiș Diana & Rotaru Cătălin-Laurențiu & Grădinaru Giani-Ionel, 2024. “A Causality Perspective: Investments in Green Energy Business vs. Conventional Business“, Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 18(1), pages 57-66.
  4. Grădinaru, G.I. and Maricuț, A.C. Spatial Analysis of Peri-Urban Areas of Bucharest in the Context of Big Data. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Vol. 18 (Issue 1), (2024) pp. 27-42. https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2024-0004
  5. Neagoe, I.E. and Grădinaru, G. Technological Strategies for Reducing Food Waste. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Vol. 18 (Issue 1), (2024) pp. 43-56. https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2024-0005
  6. Mirea, Bogdan, and Giani-Ionel Grădinaru. “The Business Value of Text Analysis and Topic Modeling: Evaluating Sentiment Shifts in Mobile Game Reviews after Updates” Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, vol. 19, no. 1, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 2025, pp. 1037-1050. https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2025-0082
  7. Rotaru, C.L., Grădinaru, G.I., Parusheva, S. and Zhelyazkova, S. Exploring Causality and Impact between Romanian Urban Real Estate Developing and Green Spaces. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Vol. 19 (Issue 1), (2025) pp. 225-235. https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2025-0020
  8. Neagoe, I.E. and Grădinaru, G. Digital health defined by eHealth and mHealth: A bibliometric Analysis. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Vol. 19 (Issue 1), (2025) pp. 201-215. https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2025-0018
  1. How Much is Horizon2020 Enhancing the Coherence of the East European Galaxy of Universities?, Vasile Alecsandru Strat, Adriana Davidescu, Cosmin Proscanu, Diana Agafitei, Octavia Albu, ICAS2024-Conference-Program.pdf, Parallel Section 6
  2. Building a Knowledge Graph on Innovation in Horizon Europe Projects, Davidescu A.A., Strat V.A., Zurini M., Roman, D., RuleML+RR’24: Companion Proceedings of the 8th International Joint Conference on Rules and Reasoning, September 16-22, 2024, Bucharest, Romania.
    https://2024.declarativeai.net/events/ruleml-rr/accepted-papers
  3. AI Research Assistant, Gheorghe, M., Chinie, C., Roman, D., RuleML+RR’24: Companion Proceedings of the 8th International Joint Conference on Rules and Reasoning, September 16-22, 2024, Bucharest, Romania.
    https://2024.declarativeai.net/events/ruleml-rr/accepted-papers
  4. Causal Inference in the Innovation Lifecycle of AI Technologies for Agriculture, Grădinaru, G., Zurini, M., Matei, B.F., Petre, D.I., RuleML+RR’24: Companion Proceedings of the 8th International Joint Conference on Rules and Reasoning, September 16-22, 2024, Bucharest, Romania.
    https://2024.declarativeai.net/events/ruleml-rr/accepted-papers
  5. AI and HF econometric modelling tools to boost financial trading strategies and company performance, Matei, M., RuleML+RR’24: Companion Proceedings of the 8th International Joint Conference on Rules and Reasoning, September 16-22, 2024, Bucharest, Romania.
    https://2024.declarativeai.net/events/ruleml-rr/accepted-papers
  6. Identifying Urban Development Patterns by Local Spatial Autocorrelation in Europe. Implications for Common Urban Policies and Strategies, Grădinaru, G., Maricuț, A.C., MedGU-24, Geo-Informatics and Remote Sensing section, 24-29 noiembrie 2024, Barcelona, Spain.
    https://2024.medgu.org/index.php?p=program (T6-OS2)
  7. Assessing urban development model in Europe and North Africa using geospatial data, Maricuț, A.C., Grădinaru, G., Strat, V.A., 12th International Geostatistics Conference.
    Conference Program
  8. Innovation Ecosystem and Artificial Intelligence: A bibliometric analysis, Grădinaru, G., Strat, V.A., Matei, M., Matei, B.F., Proscanu, C., Roman, D., 105th International Scientific Conference on Economic and Social Development – “Building Resilient Society”, 15-16 decembrie 2023, Zagreb, Croatia.
    Conference Proceedings
  9. Matei, B.F., Grădinaru, G., Neagoe, I.E., 2025. The Evolution of Methodologies and Tools for Monitoring Sustainable Bioeconomy. In: Busu, M. (eds) Smart Solutions for a Sustainable Future. ICBE 2024, Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-78179-7_12
  10. Davidescu, A.A., Agafiței, M.D., Strat, V.A. and Dima, A.M., Mapping the Landscape: A Bibliometric Analysis of Rating Agencies in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Vol. 18 (Issue 1), 2024, pp. 67-85.
    https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2024-0007
  11. Timiș, Diana & Rotaru, Cătălin-Laurențiu & Grădinaru, Giani-Ionel, 2024. “A Causality Perspective: Investments in Green Energy Business vs. Conventional Business“, Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 18(1), pp. 57-66.
  12. Grădinaru, G.I. and Maricuț, A.C., Spatial Analysis of Peri-Urban Areas of Bucharest in the Context of Big Data. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Vol. 18 (Issue 1), 2024, pp. 27-42.
    https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2024-0004
  13. Neagoe, I.E. and Grădinaru, G., Technological Strategies for Reducing Food Waste. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Vol. 18 (Issue 1), 2024, pp. 43-56.
    https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2024-0005
  14. Mirea, Bogdan, and Giani-Ionel Grădinaru. “The Business Value of Text Analysis and Topic Modeling: Evaluating Sentiment Shifts in Mobile Game Reviews after Updates.” Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Vol. 19 (Issue 1), The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 2025, pp. 1037-1050.
    https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2025-0082
  15. Rotaru, C.L., Grădinaru, G.I., Parusheva, S. and Zhelyazkova, S., Exploring Causality and Impact between Romanian Urban Real Estate Developing and Green Spaces. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Vol. 19 (Issue 1), 2025, pp. 225-235.
    https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2025-0020
  16. Neagoe, I.E. and Grădinaru, G., Digital Health Defined by eHealth and mHealth: A Bibliometric Analysis. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Vol. 19 (Issue 1), 2025, pp. 201-215.
    https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2025-0018
  1. Opening Workshop – 11 septembrie 2023, ASE, sala Bărbulescu, Piața Romană, nr. 6
  2. Workshop lansare Etapa 4 proiect CauseFinder – 17 iulie 2024, Piața Romană, nr. 6
  3. ICBE 2024 Minitrack CauseFinder: Causality in the Era of Big Data and AI
  4. ICBE 2025 Minitrack CauseFinder: Causality in the Era of Big Data and AI.
    https://bizexcellence.ro/causefinder-causality-in-the-era-of-big-data-and-ai/
    Mini track-ul a fost coordonat de colegii Mihai Gheorghe, Adriana Davidescu și Dumitru Roman și a avut loc în perioada 20-22 martie 2025.
  5. ICESS 2024 Session.
    https://www.icess.ase.ro/about/minitracks/
  6. ICDEc 2024 – Exploring the Nexus of Digital and Sustainable Economies in Developing States.
    https://www.aten.tn/ICDEc2024/special-sessions.html
  7. Declarative AI 2024 – Conferința și Reasoning Web Summer School, 16-22 septembrie 2024.
    https://2024.declarativeai.net/organization
  8. DSISS 2024 – 2024 Edition.
    datascience.ase.ro
  9. ICESS 2025 Session.
    https://www.icess.ase.ro/about/minitracks/
  10. DSISS 2025.
    datascience.ase.ro
  1. INSEAI – International Network for Knowledge and Comparative Socioeconomic Analysis of Informality: Horizon Europe Project 101182756 — INSEAI 2023 REA.A – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions & Support to Experts A.3 – MSCA Staff Exchanges (Adriana Ana Maria Davidescu, Diana Agafiței, Vasile Alecsandru Strat)
  2. MSCA Digital Finance Doctoral Network – The DIGITAL FINANCE Pathway to Industry and Academia: Horizon Europe Project 101119635 — MSCA Doctoral Networks 2022 (Beneficiari: Universitatea din Viena, Universitatea din Napoli, Universitatea Kaunas, ASE România – Vasile Alecsandru Strat, Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai, Cardo S.R.L., Universitatea Economică din Polonia)
  3. ANTERO: HORIZON-EIE-2024-CONNECT-02, înregistrare 101216220, 19 septembrie 2024. (Consorțiu: Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza – coordonator, Panepstimio Aigaiou – Grecia, Academia de Studii Economice din București – România, Helsinki Blockchain Center Oy – Finlanda, G-Gravity s.r.l. – Italia)
  4. Intellectual Asset Management Support for Public Research Organisations, Academic Institutions and Their Spin-offs (CSA): HORIZON-CL4-2024-HUMAN-02, înregistrare 101206750, 10 septembrie 2024. (Consorțiu: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology – coordonator, Vaasan Yliopisto – Finlanda, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft – Germania, VTT Finlanda, SATT Linksisum Grenoble Alpes – Franța, Tecnalia – Spania, ASE România – Stere Stamule, Visionary Analytics – Lituania, Politecnico di Torino – Italia, Waat Poland, CEN – Belgia, Association of European Science & Technology – Olanda)
  5. Empower Sustainable Mobility with Human-Like Intelligence Through AI-Driven Urban Digital Twins and Data Spaces: HORIZON DUT, înregistrare F-DUT-2024-0014, 14 noiembrie 2024. (Consorțiu: Sofia University, GATE Institute – coordonator, University of the Aegean – Grecia, University of Klagenfurt – Austria, University of Basilicata – Italia, Sofia Municipality – Bulgaria, University of Twente – Olanda (TBC), ASE România – Vasile Alecsandru Strat, SINTEF – Norvegia)
  6. FutureMinds: Foresight & Innovation for Tomorrow’s Creative Leaders: EIT Culture & Creativity Education Call 2025, înregistrare 998405966. (Consorțiu: ASE România – Vasile Alecsandru Strat, Iceberg Plus SRL, Creative Industry Košice)
  7. Youth and Young Women Entrepreneurship for Climate and Sustainability: EIT Culture & Creativity Education Call 2025, înregistrare 998405966_2. (Consorțiu: ASE România – Stere Stamule, Future Holders – Israel, Sparkco – Israel)
  1. CoEx – 42 PN-IV-P6-6.1-CoEx-2024-0085: 1. Digitalizare, industrie și spațiu / 1.2. Economie atractivă la nivel regional și global, sigură și dinamică, agilă din punct de vedere al datelor / Dezvoltare Durabilă prin formarea de Comunități Inteligente în jurul Ecosistemelor Deschise de Date. Coordonator: Virgil Baran (Universitatea București). Parteneri: Academia de Studii Economice din București (Vasile Alecsandru Strat, Cosmin Proșcanu și Dumitru Roman au făcut parte din echipa care a depus proiectul), Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Fizica și Inginerie Nucleara “Horia Hulubei” – IFIN – HH, Institutul Național de Cercetare-dezvoltare pentru Fizica Pământului – INCDFP RA, Institutul de Științe Spațiale – filiala INFLPR, Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare Pentru Fizica Materialelor București RA, Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie “Carol Davila”.
  2. CoEx – 83 PN-IV-P6-6.1-CoEx-2024-0170: 2. Climă, energie și mobilitate / 2.3. Către o mobilitate neutră și reziliență din punct de vedere climatic și prietenoasă cu mediul / Ecosistem Integrat și Inteligent de Mobilitate pentru Dezvoltare Sustenabilă. Coordonator: Adriana Davidescu (cu Mihai Gheorghe, Giani Grădinaru, Diana Agafiței) – Academia de Studii Economice București. Parteneri: Institutul Național de Cercetare Științifică în Domeniul Muncii și Protecției Sociale – INCSMPS, Universitatea Tehnică de Construcții București, Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza Iași, Universitatea din Craiova, Universitatea din Oradea, Universitatea de Vest Timișoara.
  3. Simulatorul de Afaceri Digital Twin: Integrarea Inteligenței Artificiale pentru alinierea afacerilor la taxonomia verde a Uniunii Europene, cod PN-IV-P7-7.1-PTE-2024-0587, înscris în cadrul apelului național PTE 2024. Beneficiari: Academia de Studii Economice din București și Assist Software SRL. Scop: sprijinirea afacerilor în navigarea cerințelor de sustenabilitate și tranziția către operațiuni mai ecologice, contribuind la o economie europeană mai verde și mai rezilientă.
  4. MA’AT – Modelul Autonom de Asistență Textuală: cod SMIS 330941 / Programul Creștere Inteligentă, Digitalizare și Instrumente Financiare 2021-2027 / Prioritatea P1: Susținerea și promovarea unui ecosistem de CDI atractiv și competitiv în România / Apel PCIDIF/159/PCIDIF_P1/OP1/RSO1.1/PCIDIF_A1. Partener public: Academia de Studii Economice din București. Director proiect ASE: Vasile Alecsandru Strat.
  5. INbound – Ecosistem Integrat și Inteligent de Mobilitate pentru Dezvoltare Sustenabilă: înscris în cadrul apelului național PN-IV-PRO-CoEx-2024-1 (13 mai 2024), cod PN-IV-P6-6.1-CoEx-2024-0170. Coordonator: Academia de Studii Economice din București. Parteneri: Institutul Național de Cercetare Științifică în Domeniul Muncii și Protecției Sociale, Universitatea Tehnică de Construcții București, Universitatea „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iași, Universitatea din Craiova, Universitatea din Oradea, Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara.
  6. TechBridge – Conectăm Cercetarea cu Inovația: înscris în cadrul apelului național Festival de Transfer Tehnologic 2024 (27 septembrie 2024), cod PN-IV-P7-7.4-FTT-2024-0059. Coordonator: Academia de Studii Economice din București. Parteneri: Universitatea Tehnică de Construcții București, Universitatea din Oradea, Institutul Național de Cercetare Științifică în Domeniul Muncii și Protecției Sociale, Assist Software SRL.

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