DG NEAR and EU4Digital visit Moldova, confirming startup ecosystem development support
Date: 27/03/24
Representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) and EU4Digital Facility met important Moldovan stakeholders and attended Startup Moldova Summit 2024 on 12–14 March 2024. DG NEAR Programme Manager for Digital Economy and Development Thibault Charlet confirmed ongoing European Union support for tech ecosystem development, and announced the upcoming EU4Innovation East regional initiative.
The visit provided an opportunity to engage with local key stakeholders as well as regional ecosystem representatives. They shared views on technology trends and provided invaluable insights regarding plans for developing the country’s digital area. During the visit, meetings were held with Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP), Invest Moldova Agency, Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation, representatives of the Digital Transformation for SMEs (DT4SMEs) project funded by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Artcor Creative hub, Dreamups, Startup Moldova and other major stakeholders.
Thibault Charlet also took part in the Startup Moldova Summit 2024. In a panel session, he discussed how opportunities for Moldovan start-ups and ecosystem players are growing, in connection to the Digital Europe programme as well as other important initiatives supported by the EU.
The Startup Moldova Summit marked a significant moment for innovation and entrepreneurship in Moldova. The opening of the event featured Moldova’s President, Maia Sandu, who emphasised the importance of entrepreneurial development and the Moldova start-up ecosystem. She highlighted the crucial role of innovation, education and Moldova’s technological evolution, in the context of European integration.
Startup Moldova Director Olga Melniciuc underlined that, through innovation and collaboration, the aim is to transform Moldova into a fertile ground where bold ideas meet the necessary resources for start-ups to grow and thrive.
Dave Parker, a serial entrepreneur, book author and start-up ecosystem development consultant, emphasised the need for founders to understand and accept failure as an integral part of the innovation and growth process. He highlighted the crucial importance of identifying and attracting talent, as well as building a strong community, as central pillars for the long-term success of any start-up.
Six promising Moldovan start-ups pitched their products during the event — Baby Medy, Crebase, MySportLink, SengEnergy, Fagura Moldova and EatingAI — showcasing the diversity and dynamism of Moldovan tech entrepreneurship. Success stories from start-up founders such as Mihaela Kawinska (Bloomcoding), Viorica Vanica (SelfTalk) and Nicolae Guzun (Sumboard) inspired aspiring innovators. In total, the event hosted more than 500 attendees, 30 venture capitalists and angel investors, and facilitated over 200 networking meetings organised via the Brella app to establish potential collaborations.
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