The memorandum of Understanding for the creation of a "Health Tech Hub" in Moldova has been signed

Today, the Memorandum of Understanding for the creation of the first Health Tech Hub in the Republic of Moldova was signed - an initiative that will transform the healthcare system by integrating advanced digital technologies. The event took place at Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, with the participation of representatives of strategic partners in the presence of teaching staff and study beneficiaries.

The memorandum was concluded between Nicolae Testemitanu University, the Ministry of Health (MH), the Ministry of Education and Research (MER), the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization (MEDD), the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF) and the Moldovan Development Foundation (MDF). Thus, an incubator for healthcare start-ups will be created at the University of Medicine, where the state will provide funding, mentoring and access to resources to develop and launch innovative technological solutions on the market.

The event moderator, Natalia Ciobanu, head of the Department of Development and Technological Innovation in Health at Nicolae Testemitanu University, stated that the hub represented the first platform for financing and supporting start-ups in the health sector, by combining the academic, business and associative environments, so that technologies and innovations reach the patient's bedside quickly and safely. At the same time, this project will contribute to accelerating innovations in the medical field - from idea to clinical application and, ultimately, connecting the Republic of Moldova to European and global networks. The hub will train competitive specialists for the regional and international market, strengthening Moldova's position as a center of excellence in modern medical education. This innovative platform will attract European funding and stimulate economic development by creating jobs in the health tech sector.

"I am proud that, finally, at the University of Medicine, we are all at a common table to sign this document of major importance for the future of the healthcare system and the state of the Republic of Moldova," said rector Emil Ceban. "Times are changing, and the healthcare system is developing rapidly. In addition to classical medicine, we need to integrate everything that new technologies mean - from digitalization to artificial intelligence, and this hub will be an innovative space where research, medicine and creativity will meet."

According to Doina Nistor, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization, "Nicolae Testemitanu” University is a world-class institution, and through this hub we want to capitalize on the intellectual and medical skills we have to create the medicine of the future. We already have the necessary ingredients: recognized medical skills, a rising medical tourism sector and a rapidly growing IT industry. By uniting the medical and technological fields, we will create new development opportunities for the entire country", Doina Nistor emphasized.

"The Ministry of Health fully supports digitalization and innovation - key elements of our national program. This hub represents a new path towards innovation and digitalization, new opportunities for students, new initiatives for self-assertion at the local and international level and, ultimately, quality, accessible and modern medical services," noted Corneliu Ciorici, State Secretary for Digitalization at the Ministry of Health.

Galina Rusu, Secretary General of State at the Ministry of Education and Research, mentioned that "as regards the internationalization segment, Nicolae Testemitanu University holds the lead. Creating synergies between research, innovative technologies and the educational system is a priority. The creation of this laboratory will be of great benefit not only for the research and education systems, but also for the health system, providing a real context for implementing new technologies."

According to Stella Jemna, country representative for Moldova at UMAEF, our country must keep up with new trends related to artificial intelligence, telemedicine, etc. "We must offer students innovative tools, and this building will turn into a place where knowledge will meet with the academic and private environment to create something new. We must implement new ideas, especially in medicine, and in the future we want to bring as many investments as possible to start-ups in this field. This hub is a unique opportunity to connect local medical talents with the international health innovation ecosystem."

For her part, Gabriela Ojog, MDF director, noted that in terms of "creating synergies with foreign universities, enrolling foreign students, we have always found support, understanding and responsibility, any idea coming from us is treated with great responsibility", in this context congratulating the rector of the University for the team that he managed to consolidate. "I hope to meet at the opening of the hub and to enjoy the results of this innovation and research platform in synergy with the business environment, which will be of both local and international importance".

The hub will be developed on the premises of the former "Ion and Doina" Aesthetic Center - a historic building, which will be modernized to meet the needs of a state-of-the-art innovation center.

The project is focused on four directions: support for start-ups and interdisciplinary teams in digital health and AI; acceleration of personalized medicine by integrating predictive analytics and clinical decision support; access to advanced infrastructure – laboratories, simulation, university clinics – for validation and scaling; bridging the gap between academia and the market through licensing, spin-offs and co-development with industry and civil society.

The final results are expected to be: a fully functional hub by the end of 2026, placing 30 residents (start-ups, students, clinicians, SMEs), and the launch of a structured innovation and acceleration program. The National Observatory for Health Innovation and the Student Innovation Fellowship program will also be created, with the aim of training specialists and guiding evidence-based policies.