Moldova’s Ministry of Education, Culture and Research with the support of the European Union’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and the Directorate-General Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations on 21 October organised theannual Eastern Partnership (EaP) Conference on EU–EaP Research & Innovation Co-operation beyond 2020.

The conference was attended by Ministers and senior  officials of the Republic of Moldova and the European Commission, as well as more than 100 representatives of the authorities responsible for research and innovation, but also researchers and representatives of the private sector and civil society in the six EaP countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine).

In his speech, Minister of Education, Culture and Research Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei listed the main achievements of the Republic of Moldova in the fields of research and innovation, including: approval of the National Roadmap for the Integration of the Republic of Moldova into the European Research Area and of the National Programme in the fields of Research and Innovation for 2020-2023 and accession to the European Union Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020. “A new challenge for us is joining the next programme for Research and Innovation – Horizon Europe, which would mean the further integration of the Republic of Moldova in the European Research Area,” she added.

Ms Signe Ratso, Deputy Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, said that the European Research Area focuses on the principle of open science and open innovation, and the EaP offers solutions to societal challenges. The new European Union Research and Innovation Framework Programme, Horizon Europe, will contribute to strengthening science and technology to enable addressing key global challenges in areas such as health, ageing, security, environmental pollution and climate change. “ We are aware of the challenges you face, but where is a will, there will be a way, and Republic of Moldova has such a will.”

The Conference highlighted developments in research and innovation in the EaP countries, the EU programmes available to researchers and institutions, and the activities of the EaP Partner countries in research and innovation programmes. 

Under the EU4Digital Initiative, the European Union also supports reforms and actions to favour the development of ICT research, start-ups & innovation ecosystems across the Eastern Partnership region, drawing from EU experience and best practices.

Press release