On May 21-22, 2024, the Technical University of Moldova took center stage in a series of impactful events coordinated by the Association of Electronics Companies of Moldova (ACEM) and Invest Moldova, with support from GIZ and other partners. These events included the third Moldova Electronics Forum, the inaugural Embedded Moldova Conference, the first Embedded Hackathon, and the sixth Engineering and Technology Career Fair. Each initiative showcased a strong commitment to advancing the electronics and embedded systems industries.
The third edition of the Moldova Electronics Forum, organized on May 21, 2024, by ACEM and the Investment Agency, focused on the successes and future prospects of Moldova’s electronics industry—a strategic sector for the country. This event is crucial for an industry that includes over 210 companies and six educational institutions dedicated to training specialists to meet the industry’s standards and needs. The forum aims to prove Moldova’s openness to international cooperation, in order to strengthen its position in both local and global markets, and to integrate into international supply chains.
The event also featured a panel on human resources development, where industry best practices were discussed. Additionally, PwC presented a comprehensive salary and benefits study, covering 28 companies in the electronics sector. The study revealed that employee salaries range from 6,360 to 33,000 lei, with an average annual profit of 20,000 euros per employee. This research was funded by the German Cooperation, implemented by GIZ, and co-financed by the Swiss government.
The first edition of the Embedded Moldova Conference addressed challenges and innovative solutions in the field of embedded systems.
UTM played a pivotal role in co-organizing this conference alongside ACEM and the Investment Agency. The event brought together engineers, academics, and business representatives to advance expertise in electronics engineering and embedded systems, aiming to bolster this sector.
During the conference, Professor Viorel Bostan, UTM’s rector, emphasized the importance of ACEM’s part in advancing the industry and mentioned UTM’s ongoing projects funded by external partners to ensure high-quality education for future specialists. He explained, “We are currently implementing a significant project for higher education in partnership with the World Bank. Over the next two years, we will benefit from 5.5 million euros to support various fields such as engineering, agriculture, and veterinary medicine. For the electronics sector, we will establish several laboratories focused on applied electronics. Recently, through collaboration with USAID, we acquired an outstanding laboratory for power electronics and electric vehicles. Additionally, we have secured EU-funded cross-border projects, including initiatives in automotive electronics. We greatly value our partnerships with ACEM companies and remain open to collaboration, ready to contribute with our own resources.”
During the Embedded Moldova Conference, UTM’s Dean Dumitru Ciorbă moderated an interactive panel discussion, highlighting the critical role of advanced technical education and collaborative efforts between universities and industries in fostering competencies in embedded systems.
The sixth edition of the Engineering and Technology Career Fair provided opportunities for employment and career advancement. The first Embedded Hackathon concluded during the fair, with the presentation and awarding of the top 3 winning teams.
More than 20 national and international companies came with job offers, drawing in young talents eager to explore their career paths. About 150 attendees benefited from personalized guidance in their job searches and direct interaction with representatives from various sectors within the electronics industry.
The Career Fair was skillfully moderated by Radu Melnic, director of UTM’s College. As mentioned by Mr. Melnic, the synergy between academia and industry is essential. Under his guidance, students actively participated in contests and discovered numerous job opportunities presented by leading companies in the electronics sector.
Additionally, a practical and motivational presentation titled “The Job of the Future – How to Prepare Today. Personal Development and Motivation” captivated the interest of young attendees.
Visitors also took part in interactive QUIZ contests, including a soldering iron competition organized with the support of Steinel Electronic, showcasing their skills in assembling integrated circuits. Moreover, participants toured UTM’s laboratories, the FabLab workshop, and Draexlmaier’s industrial design and project spaces.
The first Embedded Hackathon took place during the Career Fair, with six teams of enthusiastic students and pupils passionate about embedded systems, who tested their abilities under the mentorship of experienced specialists. Contestants successfully developed multiple projects, from air ionization systems to air quality control and ventilation, window opening systems based on air quality parameters, and refrigerator cooling systems. The top three inventive teams received gifts and cash prizes from the organizers and sponsors. The event concluded with a gift raffle open to all participants.
The Career Fair served as a platform for students and recent graduates, allowing them to interact directly with companies within the electronics industry. Radu Melnic underscored the significance of collaboration between academia and industry in preparing future specialists. With over 20 companies presenting job opportunities, students actively participated in interactive competitions and networking opportunities.
Donation of Laboratory Equipment: An Impetus for Education
During the forum, UTM received two notable donations: Miele Tehnica provided educational washing machines for UTM’s College, while ACEM supplied PCB circuits and peripherals for the embedded systems laboratories. These donations, supported by ACEM with additional necessary elements, mark a major advancement in modernizing laboratory equipment and improving the quality of technical education.
The series of events orchestrated by ACEM and Invest Moldova, with support from UTM and other partners, highlighted the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and authorities for the development of Moldova’s electronics industry. UTM played a central role, affirming its commitment to training high-quality specialists and strengthening ties with the industrial sector. These initiatives not only promote innovation and educational excellence but also pave the way for a bright future for young engineers and Moldova’s electronics industry as a whole.
The Association of Electronics Companies of Moldova, founded in May 2019, is a non-commercial organization aimed at advocating for its members’ interests with national authorities, fostering the exchange of best practices, and enhancing competitiveness and growth in the electronics industry. ACEM achieves these goals through effective partnerships among private companies, public entities, and various international and national organizations. Currently, ACEM represents 30 companies with over 2,200 employees and a collective turnover exceeding $100 million.
The Moldova Electronics Forum receives support from the “Strong Enterprises and Communities for Moldova” project, funded by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Swiss government, and implemented by GIZ Moldova.
