In the city of Cahul, the largest center for innovation, education, and entrepreneurship in the south of the Republic of Moldova has been inaugurated. The new Inotek – EU Innovation Centre Cahul is a project created with the financial support of the European Union, in partnership with Sweden. Prime Minister Dorin Recean, who attended the event, emphasized that the center will offer young people opportunities to develop their skills, launch local businesses, and improve communities, reports IPN.
Implemented by the National Association of ICT Companies (ATIC), in partnership with the “Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu” State University of Cahul and the Cahul City Hall, Inotek is presented as the result of a strategic investment in infrastructure, human capital, and the digital future of the region.
The new center offers a modern and multifunctional space, dedicated to digital education, professional training, as well as support for entrepreneurship and innovation. Children, young people, and adults from the south of the country will benefit from access to advanced technologies, applied learning, and STEM programs, tailored to the current demands of the labor market, according to a press release issued by ATIC.
The establishment of the Inotek regional innovation center in Cahul represents one of the main outcomes of the Startup City Cahul project, worth 6.8 million euros.
“As Moldova progresses on the path to EU accession, a strong local infrastructure for learning, innovation, and growth is vital to ensure that no one is left behind”, said Jānis Mažeiks, the European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova.
The Ambassador of Sweden to Moldova, Katarina Fried, emphasized that for her it is a privilege to conclude her mission in Moldova with such a landmark moment. “I wish for this space to become the heart of innovation in the south – a place where talent meets opportunity, where the young dream boldly, and where every idea has the chance to come to life”, the diplomat mentioned.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean welcomed the fact that “the young people of Cahul will be able to create networks, put their innovative ideas into practice, and have a good place at home for professional development”.
The initiative is part of a comprehensive regional development project, through which the state, with the support of external partners, invests in the potential of young people. In total, 15 such centers have been created throughout the country, equipped with high-performance laboratories and spaces for teamwork.
Previously, Inotek conducted its activities at the headquarters of the “Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu” State University, and now it has a new building, constructed on the site of a former dormitory of the educational institution. The center includes multifunctional spaces for training, teamwork, events, and relaxation, becoming a pillar of economic development and unemployment reduction in the region.
Over the next two years, with the support of development partners, over 4000 students will benefit from STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs offered by Inotek, and over 1000 adults and entrepreneurs will participate in training and community activities.
