Today, the Technical University of Moldova hosted the conference on the Technological Upgrade and Energy Efficiency Program for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, launched by the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA). The program aims to support companies in increasing their competitiveness and productivity on the national and international market.
Within the Program, SMEs will receive non-reimbursable aid from the state budget in the amount of up to 2 million lei – for the technological upgrade of businesses, and up to 1.5 million lei – for the purchase of equipment that will ensure the reduction of electricity consumption by at least 15%, compared to the existing consumption.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița, also present at the event, emphasized that the development of such a program was driven by both the current crises and the need to increase the competitiveness of local products, in the context in which 80% of them are sent to markets with high standards, such as the EU and US. According to the Prime Minister, the low level of productivity and competitiveness, the use of machines with a low level of technological performance, but also the high consumption of electricity, all are factors that stagnate the development process of the production sector in the Republic of Moldova. “Through this Program, we aim to increase the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises, to replace inefficient machines with modern technological solutions and to optimize production costs by implementing energy efficiency measures. Thus, we will help companies to be more efficient, more competitive, we will contribute to reducing the pressure on the environment, and we will come up with new solutions for the current global energy crisis, which requires us to be more efficient. I hope that this state investment will contribute to the creation of jobs for our citizens and to the promotion of the Republic of Moldova at the international level”, said Natalia GAVRILIȚA.
The Minister of Economy, Sergiu GAIBU, reiterated the importance of modernizing local businesses for the maintenance of their sustainability: “The program launched today will help us turn ideas into results. We urge entrepreneurs to access the funds made available and develop their business by re-engineering it”.
The host of the event, the rector of UTM, university professor, Dr. Viorel BOSTAN mentioned that the Technical University of Moldova is the right place to launch this very important Program related to the technological upgrade and re-industrialization of the country, given that one of the important missions that UTM undertakes is to get involved in solving urgent problems faced by the country, society, and the environment around us. In this context, UTM has several engineering programs that today can offer support and consultancy to the business environment in taking this very important step, such as those in the field of Robotics, Automation, Electromechanical Systems Engineering, Renewable Systems Engineering, Electric Power, Construction, Mechanical Engineering, Machine Building, etc. – which offer specialists and valuable people who know how to create beautiful things. A conclusive example in this regard is the nanosatellite TUMnanoSAT, which is to be sent into orbit in a few days, on board the International Space Station. In the conditions of the current event, UTM started an extensive process of revising the curriculum and study contents. We will introduce new courses in the field of entrepreneurship and prepare teachers via introductory training for teaching a subject in a particular area, so that UTM students will be able to launch new projects in the field, create new enterprises, or come up with new ideas and solutions in the field of technology, immediately after graduation.
The interim director of ODA, Dumitru PÎNTEA, presented the specifics of the new entrepreneurial support mechanism, which expands the institution’s list of programs: “A prosperous business starts from modern technologies, lower costs, higher sales and satisfied consumers. This Program will provide enterprises with a competitive advantage in the market, resilience and access to investments, which can bring immediate economic effects through changing the basic production model, adapting to new technologies and opting for alternative energy sources”.
Priority within the Program will be given to businesses that will show a positive evolution of economic indicators in the last 2 years of activity. They will be able to invest in the automation of the production process, the robotization of production, the implementation of IT solutions, the installation of solar and photovoltaic panels, as well as in machinery and installations for thermal heating. An important requirement for participating in the Program is that the founders of the company are citizens of the Republic of Moldova and own at least 75% of the property of the company/business.
The Technological Upgrade and Energy Efficiency Program is supported by the Government for a period of 3 years, with the possibility of being extended. For its implementation, in 2022, financial resources in the amount of 55 million lei were allocated.
