Quarterly Progress Report FY2024, Q1: Future Technologies Activity in Moldova

Key priorities for the activity are aligned with USAID, Sweden, and UK priorities to meet global demand, including continuing an effective and thoughtful response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, bolstering Moldova's cybersecurity preparedness, and support to advancing EU accession objectives in-line with the Government of Moldova's National Action Plan for Moldova's accession to the EU for 2024-2027. In the ICT and engineering sectors, the activity worked with key government and private sector partners to secure Moldova's Parliament approval of amendments to the Law on IT Parks, extending key fiscal incentives through 2035. This landmark decision extends the operational period of the Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP) from 10 to 20 years, maintains the state's guarantee for the 7% single tax until 2035, and affirms Moldova's commitment to fostering a robust IT environment. The activity supported MITP in highlighting the impact of the sector on the national economy through the Moldova Innovation Technology Park's 5th Sum IT Up event in December. A Moldovan delegation attended and showcased an interactive Moldovan country stand at the annual global Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, alongside 160 other countries. The delegation established a key contact with Startup Portugal to facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices in programs such as the Startup Visa, Support for Startups, and Support for Incubators. After a year of effective coordination and advocacy, the activity helped open the doors to the Agrotek Arena in late October at the Technical University of Moldova (TUM) alongside Ambassador Kent D. Logsdon. The Agrotek Arena is an excellence center for digital transformation in the agriculture sector. The activity also supported the expansion of horizons for young designers to reach new markets, innovate and explore sustainable practices in the fashion industry across fashion and lifestyle product lines, and to learn from international experts and mentors. In November, the FTA-supported Factory Product Innovation Program, a partnership between FTA and partners ZIPHOUSE and DAS (Design, Architecture, Style), wrapped up its acceleration activity by selecting contest winners. The program connected independent designers and factories across fashion and lifestyle industries, and the awarded projects were showcased at the Moldova in Fashion Conference held on November 16, 2023, at the Digital Park, and organized by key FTA partners ZIPHOUSE and APIUS. The activity observed national and international success of several women-led beneficiaries this quarter, including fashion designer and e-commerce pioneer Julia Allert and sister owners of RXQUETTE fashion brand winning over the European market at Paris Fashion Week, and President of APIUS and founder of Bombonici Silvia Lazu boasting 11 stores in Moldova and her flagship international store in Padova, Italy. In the creative and digital media sectors, Moldova played host for the first time to a delegation of 70 European cinematic trailblazers hailing from 20 countries at the CinemaHora event. President Sandu kicked off the event, noting the critical role that cinema and the creative sector plays in conveying a national identify and building a European community. The activity and partner COR Association continued meaningful collaboration around growing the Artcor and Mediacor hubs. In December, Artcor hosted its first silent auction showcasing 32 carefully selected artworks by young artists in a curated collection that attracted 110,000 MDL in sales, including a purchase made by Ambassador Kent D. Logsdon. The activity also supported the development of educational robotics programs in more than 200 K-12 schools, consistently securing top positions in international competitions. Through FTA's work with Cision, the news of Moldova's winning Robotics Team has the potential to reach 100,000 viewers from around the world. This quarter, the FTA and WNISEF-supported Future Classroom Lab (FCL) Center announced the new and incumbent schools which have been selected for endowment with educational robotics sets from FTA and WNISEF funds, now totaling 110 schools countrywide. Under the leadership of Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun, Moldova hosted its first National Teachers Forum, opened by President Maia Sandu, and underscoring the critical role that educators play in shaping the future of Moldova. In December, the activity supported a site visit to the newly registered Cybercor Institute, reflecting cooperation between the Government of Moldova and FTA's key donors at USAID, Sweden, and the UK. U.S. Ambassador Kent D. Logsdon joined Prime Minister Dorin Recean and discussed the significance of cybersecurity preparedness and the launch event planned for early Spring 2024. In a groundbreaking and sold-out event, the Dreamicon Moldova Startup Conference 2023 brought together 300 local startups and trailblazers eager to scale globally and achieve the coveted status of tech 'unicorns