This initiative is part of the “Innovations in Moldova” program, financed by Sweden and aimed at modernizing the agri-food sector.
Agrotek Arena is the first center of excellence and innovation in agriculture in Moldova, opened on October 24, 2023, on the territory of the Technical University.
At first, it was an open-air laboratory where students of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Forestry and Environment could closely study and experiment with the latest technologies in this field. There was a state-of-the-art orchard, drones for monitoring, weather stations, irrigation systems and other innovations necessary for successful farming.
And on July 9, 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Moldovan Ministry of Digitalization and Economic Development (MDED), the Technical University of Moldova (UTM), the Innovate Moldova program, and the Ukrainian-Moldovan American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF).
The incubator will be located on an area of 1300 square meters on two renovated floors of Agrotek Arena and will be able to host up to 30 residents – startups, student entrepreneurs, researchers and representatives of agri-food companies. It is planned to benefit more than 3,000 students, farmers and food processors annually by providing access to cutting-edge technology, prototyping labs, greenhouses and innovation support programs.
The incubator is scheduled to open to residents by September 1, with a structured accelerator program to be launched in October 2025. Activities will focus on developing viable agri-tech solutions in areas such as precision farming, smart irrigation and sustainable food processing.
The $1 million project is being implemented under a co-financing model. The Innovate Moldova program and UMAEF are supporting renovation of public areas, and UTM is providing rent-free space. Residents contribute by equipping their offices with air conditioning, furniture and technical equipment.
Agrotek Arena will also collaborate with European and American technology providers. This involves the use of a Davis weather station for climate-optimized farming, Biosfera‘s AgTech GPS solution for resource-optimized agriculture, and SAS Cropio ERP for real-time farm data analysis.
Located on UTM’s 5ha Chisinau campus in Mirceşti and connected to 570ha in the Criuleni district, Agrotek Arena will be the first major step in realizing the broader Agrotek Park concept. Future plans include the development of high-tech agricultural sites, applied research and development centers, and the repurposing of Soviet-era infrastructure into laboratories and innovation centers.
“This is more than just a building – it’s the beginning of Moldova becoming a regional center for sustainable agritech. By developing links between startups, universities and international partners, we are laying the foundation for the creation of high-value jobs and the development of export-oriented technologies,” said Sergiu Rabii, Program Director of the Innovate Moldova program.
Agrotek Arena will also contribute to Moldova’s compliance with EU standards by integrating the principles of sustainable design, ESG and inclusive economic development into its operating model.
