International expert group supports Moldova’s research and innovation system

Since 2015, the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission offers practical support to Member States and Associated Countries in order to design, implement and evaluate reforms that increase the quality of their research and innovation investments, policies and systems. This is done through the programme Horizon Europe Policy Support Facility (PSF), which provides good practice, independent high-level expertise and guidance at the request of Member States and Associated Countries.

The Government of Moldova requested the PSF programme support for the evaluation of three topics within their system: the funding system for public research, the development and effective use of the public R&I infrastructures​, and possible measures aimed at strengthening the links between rеsеаrсh and business​.

The European Commission brought together a group of international experts under the coordination of the European Future Innovation System (EFIS) Centre, which undertook a first country visit online and a second one on 20-21 September. UNESCO IESALC Head of Research and Analysis, Victoria Galan-Muros, was a member of this group, together with Adrian Curaj (Romania), Jelena Angelis (Lithuania), Janez Plavec (Slovenia), Thomas Zacharewicz (France), the project manager, Susana Elena Perez and the European Commission official, Eugenija Puciute.

They discussed the preliminary policy recommendations with the Moldovan authorities and all relevant stakeholders. This fruitful and constructive exchange of views will serve as additional input for the final report to be launched in January 2023, which will include actionable policy recommendations to the Moldovan national authorities on reforms necessary to strengthen their research and innovation system.