The Technical University of Moldova and the Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași (TUIASI) have officially launched the CONNECTINNO project – Cross-Border Interconnected Mobile Networks for Education and Innovation, funded through the INTERREG VI-A NEXT Romania–Republic of Moldova Programme.
CONNECTINNO aims to develop a cross-border interconnected mobile network for education and innovation, leveraging the potential of 5G and IoT technologies. The project focuses on strengthening academic cooperation between Romania and the Republic of Moldova and creating modern conditions for training future specialists in telecommunications and digital technologies.
The main objectives of the project include modernizing academic and research infrastructure by equipping two laboratories and creating a virtual experimentation space, developing and updating educational offerings tailored to four engineering disciplines, training students and enhancing faculty competencies, organizing a joint summer school, and hosting the Innovation Days event.
The project is led by Ciprian Romeo Comșa, project director from Romania and Vice-Rector for Innovation at the Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași, and Associate Professor Dr. Lilia Sava, project co-director from the Republic of Moldova and Dean of the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications at UTM.
“CONNECTINNO is a real opportunity to transform how students and researchers access and use modern technologies. Creating this interconnected mobile network will allow for both practical training and experimentation in near-real conditions, which will equip students with the skills needed to compete in the global digital industry. It’s an important step in UTM’s digitalization strategy, and the cross-border cooperation shows how valuable partnerships are for developing education and research,” said Dinu Țurcanu, Vice-Rector for Digitalization at UTM and a member of the project team.
The implementation of the CONNECTINNO laboratory is a major step for UTM and the Republic of Moldova, as it provides access to modern educational and technological infrastructure that is essential for training future specialists in networks and electronic communications. One of the key advantages for the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications is that this project will allow the integration of digital and applied competencies of UTM students into the teaching and research process.
CONNECTINNO thus marks a decisive step in strengthening academic and industrial cooperation between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, transforming cross-border education and innovation into a driver of regional development, supported by the European Union.
