Researchers from Moldova and Romania will now have access to grants for joint project development, with both governments providing 100 million lei in funding. Romania’s Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digitalization, Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, and Moldova’s Minister of Education and Research, Dan Perciun, announced the launch of the call for applications today in Chisinau.
Researchers can submit applications until the end of October, with each project eligible for up to 3 million Moldovan lei (approximately 750,000 Romanian lei) in funding. The projects will be implemented over 24 months.
“Today, we are launching a new call for research projects jointly funded by the governments of Moldova and Romania. This is the second edition of the initiative, and we will fund our researchers and Romanian researchers with a total budget of 100 million lei,” said Dan Perciun at the press conference.
The eligible scientific fields for the projects include digitization, industry and space, climate, energy and mobility, food, economy, natural resources, biodiversity, agriculture and environment, health, culture, creativity, inclusive society, and civil security.
FOR THE MOSTÂ IMPORTANT NEWS, FOLLOW US ONÂ TWITTER!
The joint funding will cover both direct costs, such as personnel, logistics, and travel, as well as indirect costs. International experts with doctorates and extensive experience in their respective fields will evaluate the proposals.
“We believe these joint projects will further strengthen collaboration between researchers and institutions, facilitating knowledge transfer and the exchange of best practices. We also anticipate an increase in joint applications to European and international programs. This project is symbolic for the research field,” added Perciun.
In an appeal to researchers, Perciun encouraged them to seize this opportunity: “Dear researchers, I urge you to apply for these bilateral projects and work together on Horizon Europe projects. Let’s take advantage of these opportunities, which bring us closer to the European Union. Romania has been a steadfast partner in the important reforms of our education and research system. This call for projects offers an excellent chance for collaboration, team-building, and progress toward EU integration.”
Romania’s Minister Bogdan-Gruia Ivan expressed optimism about the number of applicants to the grant competition. “Scientific diplomacy and new technologies know no borders, especially between two friendly nations that share a language and history. We hope to see the best scientists from Moldova and Romania collaborate, involving universities, research institutions, and companies from both sides of the Prut. In the next phase, we will also focus on technology transfer projects,” he said.
It is the second joint call for projects for Moldovan and Romanian researchers. The first edition, launched in 2023, had a total budget of 20 million Romanian lei, attracting 179 research project submissions, with 38 selected for funding.