Chișinău recently hosted an event marking the official launch of EU4Innovation East in Moldova—a regional project aimed at strengthening the innovation landscape in five Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The initiative’s main goal is to develop local startup ecosystems and connect them with the dynamic EU innovation market.
With a total budget of over €22,12 million allocated to the five countries, the project aims to create tangible opportunities for entrepreneurs by September 2028 through robust funding, support for incubators and accelerators, increased international visibility, and strategic connections with the European innovation ecosystem.
“EU4Innovation East is more than just a project—it’s a bridge connecting us to Europe, its values, and a more systemic approach to innovation. It’s not just about funding; it brings vision, structure, and the partnerships Moldova needs right now. We need to raise awareness on innovation and, by working together, we can do that. Just as digitalization has become an essential part of our daily work, innovation must now follow the same path,″ mentioned Michelle Iliev, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization.
HE Dominique WAAG, French Ambassador to Moldova, said: ″Tech is a sector of excellence in both France and Moldova. I express France’s strong support for the strengthening of the Moldovan startup ecosystem and deepening of its ties with France and with the European tech community.″
″EU4Innovation East is our flagship programme to support digital innovation and competitiveness across the entire Eastern Partnership region. Having such regional coverage is a strong asset, because we can learn from each other while also having a tailored approach to the local ecosystems. Our freedom, our prosperity, our security in Europe depend very much on our ability to innovate. And we need strong partners, we need the creativity, the ambition of countries such as Moldova to do so, this is why we are launching this programme today. Our programme will also facilitate the rollout of the EU’s EUR 1,9 billion Economic Growth Plan for Moldova, which will be the largest EU financial support provided to Moldova″ mentioned Thibault Charlet, Programme Manager for Digital and Economic Development, Directorate-General for Enlargement Negotiations and Neighbourhood East, European Commission.
EU4Innovation East will play a vital role in developing Moldova’s innovation ecosystem through close collaboration with local authorities, startup support organisations, accelerators, incubators, universities, the private sector, and international donors. Through strategic partnerships, the project will help strengthen and expand an ecosystem that has experienced rapid growth in recent years.
The project’s strategy includes funding programs for early-stage startups, as well as capacity-building initiatives for investors and incubator and accelerator managers. Additionally, Moldovan startups will be supported in participating in Europe’s most significant industry events, while local events will receive organizational support, further strengthening the innovation ecosystem, fostering idea exchange, and facilitating connections. Moreover, success stories of Moldovan startups will be promoted, enhancing their visibility.
The launch event highlighted the progress of Moldova’s innovation ecosystem, which now counts over 250 startups. Discussions showcased both common elements and the unique characteristics of the national ecosystem compared to those in Ukraine, Armenia, and Georgia. The event served as a dynamic platform for dialogue and collaboration, where industry experts and entrepreneurs explored future challenges and opportunities, inspiring those eager to accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.
In recent years, Moldovan startups have become a driving force behind local economic development, and 2024 marked a record €7.3 million in funding—double that of 2023.
″Our initiative aims to strengthen the startup landscape across five EaP countries, fostering competitiveness and creating tangible opportunities for entrepreneurs. While regional, our approach is tailored to each country’s ecosystem, complementing existing efforts. To ensure long-term impact, we support startup organizations and government-backed programs, enabling them to offer high-value services that grow the startup community, inspire talent, and improve progress,″ mentioned Julien Schmitt, Project Director EU4Innovation East.
The launch of EU4Innovation East in Moldova aims at opening an ambitious chapter in which the startup ecosystem will experience growth, benefiting from European support, international connections, and access to essential resources for scaling.
EU4Innovation East project is funded by the European Union, co-financed by the French Government, and implemented by Expertise France.
