The Republic of Moldova has officially joined EuroHPC — the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking — as its 37th participating state, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the country’s position in supercomputing and advanced digital technologies, reports TRIBUNA.

According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, Moldova’s accession to EuroHPC represents a major milestone in integrating into a European research and innovation network aimed at developing supercomputing infrastructure, fostering scientific excellence, and accelerating innovation across the continent.

Since January 2012, Moldova has actively participated in EU research and innovation programs. As an associated country under Horizon 2020, Moldovan researchers from academia, research institutes, public authorities, and the private sector have already accessed EuroHPC supercomputers for scientific and technological projects.

With its new status as a full participating state, cooperation between EuroHPC and Moldova’s scientific community will be significantly expanded. Moldovan researchers will be eligible to apply for EuroHPC research and innovation calls funded through Horizon Europe, supporting the development of supercomputing technologies, applications, and software.

Additionally, as a signatory to the Digital Europe Programme since February 2024, Moldova will contribute to the development of the EuroHPC AI Factories network and initiatives focused on digital skills and supercomputing, reinforcing a competitive and innovative European AI ecosystem.

Moldova joins other non-EU EuroHPC participating states such as Albania, Iceland, Israel, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Turkey, and the United Kingdom — countries cooperating with the EU to achieve the shared goal of strategic autonomy in supercomputing, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, helping build a European ecosystem of excellence in frontier technologies.

“We are delighted to welcome the Republic of Moldova as a new member of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. This expansion strengthens European cooperation in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies across the continent,” said Anders Dam Jensen, Executive Director of EuroHPC.

“Innovation is not just a goal for Moldova. It is a national priority and a driving force for the future. Joining EuroHPC gives our country the opportunity to invest in breakthrough technologies, accelerate our research capacity, and position Moldova as a leader in Europe’s digital transformation,” stated Doina Nistor, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization.

“Our priority is to modernize research and education in Moldova, creating an environment where young and talented researchers can thrive. Through world-class infrastructure and international collaboration, we are laying the foundation for a knowledge-based society. Joining EuroHPC gives us access to cutting-edge supercomputing resources and partnerships that will significantly enhance our research capacity and innovation potential, fully aligned with European priorities,” emphasized Dan Perciun, Minister of Education and Research.

The European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking is a legal and financial entity established in 2018 to enable the EU and participating states to coordinate efforts and pool resources to make Europe a global leader in supercomputing.

To date, EuroHPC has acquired eleven supercomputers located across Europe, three of which rank in the global top 10: JUPITER (Germany, 4th), LUMI (Finland, 9th), and Leonardo (Italy, 10th).

Through EuroHPC calls, European scientists, public institutions, and industry can access these high-performance computing resources.

EuroHPC also coordinates the implementation of 13 AI Factories across Europe, offering free personalized support to SMEs and startups, and developing a European quantum computing infrastructure integrated with existing supercomputers.

In parallel, EuroHPC invests in research and innovation projects to build a complete European supercomputing value chain — from processors and software to applications and advanced HPC skills development.