Moldovan education minister says Moldova's rapprochement with EU to open new opportunities for researchers

Chisinau, 20 November /MOLDPRES/ - The research is a priority at the European level and Moldova’s rapprochement with the European Union will open ever more opportunities for researchers from Moldova. Education and Research Minister Dan Perciun today made statements to this effect on the Science Day.  

The greatest event of the year in the research and innovation sector, at its 13th edition, was dedicated to Moldova’s European integration goal. Among the visitors of the event, there were adults, young people and children, who were able to know the findings of the native researches and innovations, displayed by those 33 scientific institutions and about 300 researchers from Moldova. The guests were involved in diverse interactive activities; scientific mini-laboratories were improvised, numerous experiments were presented, various plays for children, public lectures, book, fine art and decorative exhibitions were organized.       

„It is necessary that Moldova invests even more in research and get our level of research closer to the EU’s one,’’ the minister noted. The official referred to the findings of our researchers within Horizon Europe Programme. Presently, Moldova has signed 31 grants with the European Commission, 154 eligible proposals and a success rate of almost 26 per cent, which is by far more than the general rate. Another result, to which Dan Perciun referred, is the National Programme in the Research and Innovation Sector for 2024-2027, which is set to ensure the proper development and financing of the field, with an increase in financing, year after year, by 0.1 per cent from the Gross Domestic Product.      

The doubling of the scholarships for the people training for doctor’s degree and providing of an annual allowance to young PhDs in the first three years of work, encouraging of the cooperation between the scientific and business environments, in order to enhance the competitiveness of the national economy, establishing of new partnerships, organization of contests on innovation projects, projects of innovation vouchers are among the goals which the Education and Research Ministry (MEC) is set to achieve on the next period.   

The Moldovan president’s adviser in the education and research sector, Valentina Chicu, touched upon the importance to attract young people to science. ‘’It is the case for us to take out the research out of the laboratory and go with it to education institutions, so that we cultivate the features and skills necessary to increase the number of researchers, as each citizen needs research,’’ Valentina Chicu said.   

On the occasion of the Science Day, more researchers from Moldova, who have distinguished themselves through outstanding scientific results in the last year, received diplomas on behalf of the government and the Education and Research Ministry.