Republic of Moldova – EU4Innovation East has officially launched a new Call for Project Proposals in Moldova, allocating €1,000,000 to strengthen the country’s startup ecosystem through incubation, acceleration, talent development and investment readiness programmes.
The call targets Moldovan-registered organisations with proven experience in supporting startups and entrepreneurial talent, reinforcing Moldova’s pathway towards a competitive, innovation-driven economy.
The call is designed to support a full-spectrum startup pipeline — from ideation and early validation to scaling and access to investment. Grants up to €250,000 will enable local actors to implement incubation and acceleration programmes, hackathons, bootcamps, mentorship initiatives, diaspora engagement activities and investment-readiness support, addressing critical gaps in Moldova’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Highlighting the European Union’s commitment to innovation-driven growth in Moldova and in the Eastern Partnership region, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Iwona Piórko, stated: “Supporting innovation ecosystems is a priority for the European Union. Through the regional programme ‘EU4Innovation East’, we are strengthening local capacities, fostering tech entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for startups in Moldova to integrate into regional and international value chains”
Building on this strategic European vision at the national level, Charles Mathiaux, Deputy Director of the EU4Innovation East project, added: “This call is a strategic investment in Moldova’s innovation future. By empowering local organisations to deliver high-quality startup support programmes, we are helping build a resilient ecosystem where ideas can mature into scalable businesses connected to European and global markets.”
EU4Innovation East plays a pivotal role across the Eastern Partnership region, working to enhance startup competitiveness, improve access to finance and markets, and strengthen ecosystem collaboration. Funded by the European Union, co-funded by the Government of France and implemented by Expertise France, the project supports EaP countries through targeted grants, capacity building and regional connectivity.
In Moldova, EU4Innovation East has focused on strengthening local innovation capacity and ecosystem connectivity. Over the past year, the project supported Moldovan founders, students and innovators through talent generation and entrepreneurial events such as GigaHack and startup bootcamp, facilitated connections between Moldovan startups and regional and European investors, and enabled their participation in leading international technology and innovation events. EU4Innovation East also contributed to the development of the national startup ecosystem by supporting flagship tech events in Moldova (Startup Moldova Summit, TechVillage), fostering collaboration between startups, investors and ecosystem actors, and opening new pathways for international exposure and sustainable growth.
The current Call for Grant Applications represents a key opportunity for Moldovan organisations to contribute to this momentum, translating regional experience into locally anchored programs with long-term impact.
