Motto: Connecting Minds, Creating Solutions
On September 18, 2025, Chișinău hosted the second edition of the Embedded Moldova Conference, organised by the Association of Electronics Companies in Moldova (ACEM) in partnership with the Invest Moldova Agency, as part of Moldova Business Week. The conference opened with welcome messages from representatives of the Government of the Republic of Moldova and ACEM’s strategic partners, underlining the importance of digital transformation and the role of the electronics industry in the country’s economic development.
Doina Nistor, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Digitalisation, emphasised that industrialisation, automation, and the development of technical skills for Moldova’s future economy are fundamental pillars of current government policies. Mrs Nistor highlighted Moldova’s ambitious goal to double its economic growth rate to reach the level of the European Union, stressing the need for smart growth driven by innovation, digitalisation, and the adoption of emerging technologies.
Natalia Bejan, General Director of the Invest Moldova Agency, noted that over 90% of Moldova’s electronics production is exported, with 9 out of 10 technological components and products destined for the European Union. The country’s key partners include Romania, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, and Poland. These figures demonstrate the strong integration of Moldova’s electronics sector into European value chains and its significant impact on the national economy.
Recent investment announcements, such as the expansion of production capacities by Cornelius Electronics and Gebauer & Griller’s plans to invest between €5–8 million in the coming years, further confirm Moldova’s attractiveness to foreign investors and the growth potential of the electronics industry. These projects not only strengthen the country’s position as a provider of competitive solutions but also create new opportunities for the skilled local workforce.
The participation in the Embedded Moldova Conference reflects the growing interest in the industrial sector and the competitive potential of Moldova’s economy. Thanks to the joint efforts of ACEM and its partners, the event has become a key platform for presenting the latest trends and development opportunities in embedded systems. Moldovan companies are already integrated into European and global value chains, and the broader application of these technologies will consolidate the country’s position on the international innovation map, turning the sector into a strategic pillar of economic progress, highlighted Guido Beltrani, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova.
A key topic addressed during the conference a panel discussions smart meters and consumer trust. Experts stressed the challenges related to budget and the need for cost-efficient yet reliable solutions. By analyzing historical data and ensuring transparency regarding consumption and prices, digital platforms can prevent errors and fraud, strengthening citizens’ trust—an essential factor for digitalization and the adoption of Industry 4.0 solutions.
Another important focus was on process automation and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), seen as one of the most practical starting points for Moldovan companies. Automation combined with IIoT is not just about replacing repetitive tasks with robots, but about creating systems that reduce errors, optimize resources, and allow employees to focus on higher-value activities. For local businesses, this means increased competitiveness, faster adaptation to client needs, and the ability to scale operations with fewer constraints. In practice, automation integrated with IIoT serves as the bridge between today’s traditional operations and the fully digitalized smart factories of the future.
The conference also explored smart home solutions, with experts drawing attention to critical security challenges and emphasising the need for permanent solutions to protect locally developed and manufactured devices from espionage risks.
Discussions further highlighted consumer profiles, noting that younger generations, particularly those aged 18 to 45, show the highest interest in smart homes, while interest gradually declines in older age groups. Despite this, the market continues to hold significant growth potential, both through the development of new technologies and through strengthening user trust in the security and functionality of these solutions.
The event concluded with a session dedicated to education, which generated a productive discussion between academia and the private sector regarding the training of young technical specialists.
Company representatives stressed that although students today have solid theoretical training, they need more practical experience and the development of soft skills to integrate more easily into the labour market. For their part, academic representatives underlined that universities remain the foundation of technical knowledge, which is why students should be exposed to a broader range of disciplines to ensure flexibility when choosing their specialisation.
A clear consensus emerged: cooperation between academia and the private sector is essential for Moldova’s continued technological progress.
The conference demonstrated that the electronics industry and embedded systems sector in Moldova hold real development potential. However, success depends on close collaboration between companies, academia, authorities, and international partners. Together, challenges can be transformed into opportunities, building a more competitive and innovative future for Moldova.
The event was supported by the project “Strong Businesses and Communities for Moldova” project, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (#BMZ) and Swiss Government, implemented by GIZ Moldova.
Event partners: OTP Bank S.A, ADD Grup SRL, Informbusiness SRL, BSW Tech SRL, Steinel Electronic SRL, Magnetec Components SRL, Procesio, Mechatronics Innovation Center SRL, Orcolia Lux SRL, Simpals SRL, EASYDO Digital Technologies SRL