Romania and the Republic of Moldova make a significant step towards strengthening scientific cooperation at the European level by launching the joint programme of research grants “Stronger together in the European research area”. This ambitious programme aims to align research in the two countries to the EU standards and priorities, facilitating integration into European research networks and promoting scientific excellence in a transnational context.
The programme was launched during the international forum organized by the Ministry of Education and Research together with the European Union High Level Advisers’ Mission today, 14 September, in Chisinau. The forum brought together over 180 researchers from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, in order to optimize the opportunities and resources offered by this program. By supporting joint research projects, the program contributes to the achievement of the European objectives of innovation and scientific progress, focusing on essential areas such as health, environment, digitalization and sustainable energy, stated the Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun at the opening of the event.
Ludmila Nistor-Mihajlova, policy officer within the Directorate General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission highlighted the vital role of collaboration in the European Research Area, underlining the growing contribution of Moldova to Horizon Europe. She noted Moldova’s progress, including €5.5 million in EU funding for research and innovation, while encouraging the participation and empowerment of young researchers. The official concluded by underlining the collective power of European research in addressing global challenges and building a sustainable future.
The event set itself the goal of
- Integration into the European Research Area (ERA), supporting scientific collaboration between researchers from Romania and the Republic of Moldova and their counterparts from other member states of the European Union. During the conference, the participants learned how they can access and capitalize on European funds for joint research projects.
- Consolidation of international partnerships, which contribute to the creation of strong research consortia in strategic fields.
- Access to European scientific excellence: The grant programme aims to support innovative projects that are competitive at the European level, supporting the participation of researchers from Romania and the Republic of Moldova in top initiatives from the European Research Area.
The European importance of the program was underlined by Daniel P. Funeriu, EU High Level Adviser on Education and Research: “This bilateral initiative fully aligns with the EU priorities of developing a strong, innovative and integrated research ecosystem. Stronger together in the European research area promotes not only regional collaboration, but also the integration of researchers from Romania and the Republic of Moldova into European research networks, thus contributing to increasing their visibility and competitiveness at the international level.
