Liliana Babare
A business incubator is an organization that provides aspiring entrepreneurs with a supportive environment and assistance in developing their startups. These institutions offer affordable workspaces, consulting services, training, and access to financing for a specified period of time.
Twelve business incubators operating in the Republic of Moldova will benefit from investments in energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy sources, and the strengthening of institutional capacity to provide higher-quality services to small and medium-sized enterprises and accelerate the development of “green” entrepreneurship at the local level.
On July 16, 2026, at an event held in Chisinau, they were all presented with partnership certificates.
“These investments represent more than just infrastructure modernization. By implementing modern energy-efficiency solutions, the incubator is strengthening its capacity to provide high-quality services to entrepreneurs and create better conditions for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. The savings generated will be reinvested in expanding services for entrepreneurs,” said Liliana Babare, administrator of the “Soroka” business incubator.
What will be done:
– Installation of photovoltaic systems and energy storage systems;
– installation of heat pumps and LED lighting;
– energy efficiency measures: thermal insulation work, replacement of windows and doors, or other solutions aimed at improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of the infrastructure;
– purchase of equipment that will reduce energy consumption and operating costs.
In addition to infrastructure investments, business incubators will benefit from an institutional development program that will promote the integration of gender equality and climate change mitigation principles into the advisory, training, and support services offered to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Direct interaction between business incubators, entrepreneurs, and local communities will be facilitated. Awareness-raising events will be held in local communities, particularly for women farmers.
And these are just the first steps.
A Multi-Year Program
With support from UNDP and Denmark, energy audits were conducted in 10 of 12 business incubators in 2026. According to the data obtained, the recommended energy efficiency measures will require a total investment of approximately 32.4 million lei, or $1.8 million. Implementing these measures will reduce energy consumption by more than one million kWh per year—or approximately 2.8 million lei per year—while maintaining adequate thermal comfort. At the same time, CO2 emissions will be reduced by more than 400 metric tons per year.
The business incubators cover the regions of Leova, Cahul, Călărași, Țadîr-Lunga, Cimișlia, Dubăsari, Nisporeni, Rezina, Soroca, Ștefan Voda, Sîngerei, and Chișinău. They provide space for nearly 300 businesses and contribute to the creation of more than 1,000 jobs, playing an important role in the development of local entrepreneurship.
