Moldova has launched a new innovation fund with an initial budget of more than €1 million to support pre-seed and early-stage technology projects, as the country seeks to help startups move from early concepts to market-ready products.
The Moldova Innovation Fund, operated by Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP), will run four competitive funding rounds over the next 24 months. The first call opened on October 1, 2026.
Under the program, pre-seed projects can receive grants of up to €20,000, while early-stage projects can access up to €40,000. The fund can be used for idea validation, proof of concept, prototyping, technology testing, product improvement and market validation.
Eligible projects include software and a range of other technology areas, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, govtech, agritech, biotechnology, big data, cloud technologies and robotics. The release said projects may combine software, hardware, algorithms and physical technology products.
Applications will be assessed through eligibility screening, technical evaluation and a pitch stage. Beneficiaries and grant amounts will be approved by the Moldova Innovation Fund Coordination Committee.
“An idea becomes economic value when a team has the resources to test it, improve it and bring it to a customer. The Moldova Innovation Fund gives Moldovan founders that first decisive step. We are turning innovation into a growth engine by connecting talent with early capital, practical validation and a clear path to international markets.”, said Michelle Iliev, Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization.
MITP administrator Marina Bzovîi said the fund is intended to create a pathway from validation and prototyping through to market entry and private investment.
The launch follows recent indicators of increased activity in Moldova’s startup ecosystem. The release cited StartupBlink’s Global Startup Ecosystem Index, which it said named Moldova the fastest-growing startup ecosystem in Europe after a population-adjusted score increase of 91.9% between its 2025 and 2026 editions, and an overall ranking of 82nd globally.
According to the release, Moldova has more than 300 active startups, and local startups attracted more than $17 million in investment in 2025—about twice the amount raised a year earlier. The fund is positioned as an earlier-stage financing option for teams not yet ready for angel or venture capital funding.
MITP said it surpassed 3,000 active resident companies in September 2026, up from 338 when it began operations in 2018. The park’s resident companies employ more than 27,000 people, and around 90% of products and services developed by residents are intended for export, according to the release.
The release said eligible technology companies operating under MITP have access to a simplified 7% single tax on sales revenue, with the regime guaranteed by the state until the end of 2035.
The fund’s initial financing is provided by the European Union, co-financed by the Government of France and implemented by Expertise France, the release said.
