PHOTO // Scientific community of USMF "Nicolae Testemițanu" identified new opportunities for developing research infrastructure

Representatives of the scientific community of "Nicolae Testemițanu" State University of Medicine and Pharmacy took part in an information session dedicated to the call for subprojects for research infrastructure. The competition is launched by the Ministry of Education and Research together with the National Agency for Research and Development (ANCD), within the Higher Education in Moldova Project.

The call was presented by Anatolie Topală, project representative, and Natalia Bolocan, ANCD representative, who provided an overview of the objectives and opportunities of the competition.

"The purpose of the call is to create state-of-the-art research infrastructure in priority areas of national importance, which will allow universities in the Republic of Moldova to carry out high-quality research activities that are competitive at the international level," said Topală.

The subprojects will focus on the priority areas established in the National Smart Specialization Program for 2024–2027, SMART Moldova. The strategic orientation aims to strengthen sectors with high innovation and competitiveness potential, boost applied research and create platforms that would facilitate interdisciplinary and international collaborations.

Within the competition, priority will be given to subproject proposals that demonstrate interdisciplinary use of the infrastructure and openness to new fields, such as personalized medicine and biopharmaceutics, sustainable agriculture, engineering nanomaterials for electronics and alternative energy.

Topală emphasized that subproject proposals can be submitted under two funding lines: the first provides for the creation of a national research infrastructure, which may include the development, construction or investment in cutting-edge research infrastructures, while the second targets the improvement or expansion of existing research facilities. For the first funding line, 9 million euros have been allocated, with a maximum value of 900,000 euros per project. For the second line, 0.5 million euros are planned, with funding of up to 250,000 euros for each project submitted by a university.

During the session, Jana Chihai, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation of "Nicolae Testemițanu" USMF noted the increased interest from the scientific community in consolidating and modernizing research infrastructure, as well as in enhancing institutional competitiveness at national and international level.

"We are open to the opportunities offered by this call, in the context of the need for strategic investments to support the development of research and the expansion of scientific collaboration," the vice-rector said.

The event was attended by heads of departments, chairs and laboratories, as well as researchers who were familiarized with the conditions for participation in the competition.

Universities may request research infrastructures that include installations, resources and services such as major scientific equipment or sets of instruments; knowledge resources such as collections, archives or structures for scientific information; ICT infrastructures, as well as any other means necessary to achieve a level of excellence in research.

The deadline for submitting subproject proposals is 31 May 2026.