Organizations in the Republic of Moldova that support the development of innovative entrepreneurship can access European funding to expand and professionalize the national startup ecosystem. The EU4Innovation East project has launched a call for project proposals, with a total budget of one million euros, aimed at strengthening support structures for future entrepreneurs.
The call aims to support the entire journey of a startup, from ideation and early validation to growth, scaling and access to investment. The grants, worth up to 250.000 euros per project, will allow local actors to develop incubation and acceleration programs, hackathons, bootcamps, mentoring initiatives, diaspora engagement activities, as well as support for preparing startups to attract investment, thus contributing to filling the existing gaps in the entrepreneurial landscape in the Republic of Moldova.
The European Union Ambassador to Moldova, Iwona Piórko, stated that supporting innovation ecosystems in the Eastern Partnership region is a priority for the European Union.
“Through EU4Innovation East, we strengthen local capacities, stimulate entrepreneurship and create concrete opportunities for startups from the Republic of Moldova to integrate into regional and international value chains”, said the Ambassador.
The Deputy Director of the EU4Innovation East project, Charles Mathiaux, added that this call represents a strategic investment in the future of innovation in the Republic of Moldova.
“By empowering local organizations to deliver high-quality programs to support startups, we contribute to building a resilient ecosystem, where ideas can evolve into scalable businesses, connected to European and global markets”, said Charles Mathiaux.
EU4Innovation East plays a key role in the Eastern Partnership region, contributing to increasing the competitiveness of startups, improving access to finance and markets, and strengthening cooperation between ecosystems. The project is funded by the European Union, co-financed by the French Government and implemented by Expertise France, providing support through dedicated grants, local capacity building and regional connectivity.
