The European Union and Sweden support the establishment of the largest innovation centre in the southern region
“EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul”, a five-year project funded by the European Union in partnership with Sweden and implemented by the National Association of ICT Companies, marks a major milestone in the digital transformation and economic development of the southern region. On 8 October, renovation work began on the building that will host the largest innovation and IT excellence centre in the region: Inotek – EU Innovation Centre Cahul. This initiative is realised through a broad public-private partnership, with support from development partners, “Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu” State University, and the Cahul City Hall. The new Inotek centre will open its doors in the spring of 2025.
The four-story building, with over 1,600 square meters of space, will provide the community with a modern, multifunctional facility to meet the diverse needs of its users. The future centre will offer state-of-the-art amenities for children, youth, adults, entrepreneurs, and professionals and will serve as a comprehensive platform for innovation, access to advanced technologies, digital solutions, and training programs, supporting economic development and expanding opportunities for the residents of the Cahul region.
“The European Union remains a commited partner of the Republic of Moldova in its efforts to stimulate economic development and accelerate digital transformation. The ”EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul” project is a clear example of how strategic investments in innovation and education can create tangible opportunities for local communities and transform entire regions. The launch of the construction of the new Inotek – EU Innovation Centre Cahul marks an important step towards a digitalized and competitive future for southern Moldova. We are proud to support this project, which will bring concrete benefits to young people, entrepreneurs, and society as a whole,” declared His Excellency Jānis Mažeiks, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.
Inotek will contribute to the development of a more equitable and inclusive economy by encouraging girls and women in the region to embrace and harness the potential of information technologies to grow, assert themselves, and pursue their aspirations. Over 60% of the total participants involved in the initiatives and actions carried out by the centre will be girls and women.
“While Sweden has made significant strides in gender equality, we recognise that the representation of women in STEM remains below optimal levels. This is why it’s essential to create inclusive spaces that support and empower girls and women—especially mothers—on their career journeys. Initiatives like the Inotek Centre, which promotes and supports the development of women in STEM and entrepreneurship, will help drive meaningful change and offer new opportunities for women in Moldova to thrive in the tech sector,” stated Her Excellency Katarina Fried, Ambassador of Sweden to Moldova.
Better Employment Opportunities for Youth and Support for Innovative Entrepreneurship in the Southern Region
The Inotek centre will focus on developing and enhancing ICT skills among youth in the region, offering them a wide range of educational and training programs, thus equipping them with the tools needed to access better opportunities in the job market. In the first two years after its opening, with financial support from the Government of Sweden under the “Inotek4Cahul” project, more than 4,000 students will benefit from STEM programs offered or supported by Inotek. Young people will develop relevant digital and entrepreneurial skills, gaining a significant competitive edge in an increasingly technology and innovation-oriented global job market.
The centre’s programmes will cover key areas such as programming, web design and development, graphic design, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and more, preparing youth for well-paid, dynamic careers in the IT and digital sectors. Thus, Inotek will play a crucial role in reducing youth unemployment in the region and will contribute to retaining local talent, offering viable solutions to prevent migration.
At the same time, Inotek will become the epicentre of actions and events dedicated to supporting the business ecosystem and facilitating the establishment of startups in the southern region of Moldova. The centre will conduct entrepreneurship development programs for youth, host events for the transfer of experiences and best practices for regional entrepreneurs, and promote community-building and collaboration initiatives.
More than 1,000 people will benefit from training, consultancy, new knowledge, and connections through participation in community and entrepreneurial events organised by Inotek in the first two years after its launch. Young entrepreneurs will have access to the resources and knowledge necessary to launch, develop, and accelerate innovative businesses, while the business community in the southern region will have access to a communication and collaboration platform that will facilitate the exploration and capitalisation of new opportunities for improving, expanding, and reconfiguring their business models and processes.
From 247 to 1,600 Square Metres Dedicated to Innovation, Impact Programs, and Transformative Initiatives
In its first phase, the Inotek Innovation Centre was launched on 17 May 2023, at “Bogdan Petriceicu Hașdeu” State University in Cahul. The centre spans 247 square metres and offers a modern space that provides access to the latest technologies and digital tools, as well as relevant training and education programs. The launch of the centre was made possible with the support of the European Union and Sweden, under the “EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul” project.
Over 3,000 people from the region, 51% of whom are girls and women, benefited from the 55 initiatives carried out under the Inotek umbrella in its first year of activity, with support from development partners, taking advantage of significant opportunities for learning, personal development, career guidance, business growth, experience exchange, and valuable networking.
“Inotek will complete the network of centres dedicated to enhancing the potential of the IT workforce, nurturing and growing startup ideas, and will also serve as an attraction point for possible economic development projects, digitalization, and training for local public authorities and small and medium-sized enterprises. Inotek has already put the city of Cahul on the regional map, hosting hundreds of events and providing quality education to thousands of children and youth in the southern region. We eagerly anticipate the centre, which will undoubtedly attract more companies to operate in the IT sector and encourage more young people to choose this field,” mentioned Ana Chirița, Director of Strategic Projects, National Association of ICT Companies.
What Will the New Inotek Centre Space Look Like?
During the first phase, funded by the European Union in partnership with Sweden, the building’s first and second floor will be fully renovated and endowed. The ground floor will include a reception area and two conference rooms, a mini-café, and a common relaxation area. This floor will also house the Youth Maker Club and meeting rooms. The second floor will feature meeting rooms, training spaces, administrative offices, and coworking spaces for companies, complemented by a common dining area. This phase is expected to be completed by May 2025, after which the centre will open its doors to the public.
In the next phase, renovation work will continue on the third and fourth floors. The third floor will house an extended coworking space, including meeting rooms, offices, a children’s area, and laboratories for educational activities. The fourth floor will include a mini-hotel facility for event participants and offices for startups and SMEs. This floor will also feature a sports area and a common dining space. To fully capitalise on the potential of the new centre, the project implementers are making efforts to identify additional funding opportunities that would contribute to the final renovation and endowment of the third and fourth floors.
“The launch of the reconstruction process for the building that will host the Inotek Centre marks a historic moment for Cahul and the southern region of the country. The hub will revitalise the local economy, attract new investments, and create long-term development opportunities for IT companies. Through modernising infrastructure and expanding technological capabilities, Inotek becomes a driving force for innovation and progress in the southern region,” Nicolae Mocanu, Administrator of the Inotek Foundation.
“EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul” – A Catalyst for Economic Growth and Digital Transformation in Southern Moldova
Supported by the European Union and Sweden, the “EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul” project aims to leverage and strengthen the potential of the digital economy in the southern region and increase its competitiveness and attractiveness for investment. Through strategic partnerships with local authorities, businesses, and educational institutions, the project contributes significantly to the transformation of the region.
In the first four years of implementation, the project has achieved a series of remarkable results. In the field of entrepreneurial ecosystem development, 38 SMEs benefited from digital training programs, and 12 businesses, 4 NGOs, public institutions, and 6 startups from southern Moldova received grants to digitise their activities. Entrepreneurs in the region had the opportunity to improve their knowledge in key areas by participating in more than 100 community events. The project also had a significant impact in the field of STEM education, with over 20,000 student beneficiaries, over 1,000 trained teachers, and 15 digital laboratories created in the southern region.
This material was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its content represents the sole responsibility of the EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul” project, financed by the European Union in partnership with Sweden. The content of the material belongs to the authors and does not necessarily reflect the vision of the European Union.
