More than 14,000 professionals have participated in INOTEK programmes since the centre was launched. Now, the Cahul-based innovation centre is preparing for its next stage of development. With the support of the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF), the team is strengthening its capabilities, consulting the community and developing services tailored to the needs of southern Moldova—while ensuring the centre’s long-term financial sustainability.

What the project has achieved so far

The team has completed training and mentoring in strategic planning, service development, fundraising and promotion—skills it is already applying to assess and improve the centre’s operations.

The community was asked directly what it needs. During a Design Thinking workshop organised by INOTEK, entrepreneurs, professionals and local organisations identified their priorities: affordable coworking spaces, venues for events and training, and services designed specifically for businesses in the region.

Participants requested one-to-one mentoring, practical training tailored to each business’s stage of development, and integrated packages combining access to workspace with support for digitalisation, business development and connections to potential partners. Through these services, INOTEK aims to become a regional gateway through which people and organisations in southern Moldova can access national and international expertise and opportunities—close to home.

The ideas generated during the workshop are now taking shape. Based on the community’s input, the team is developing new service packages, reviewing its pricing and defining the centre’s future offering.

“Strengthening INOTEK means, first and foremost, making decisions based on demand in the region and the centre’s ability to sustain each service over the long term. This is why we are working simultaneously to develop our team, assess the available resources and consult those who will use the centre’s spaces and services. The community’s recommendations help us determine which services are genuinely needed, how they should be structured and in what order they should be developed, so that INOTEK remains relevant to the region while strengthening its financial sustainability,” said Nicolae Mocanu, Administrator of the INOTEK Foundation.

Why it matters

INOTEK brings to Cahul the expertise, resources and opportunities that are usually concentrated in larger cities. Today, the centre is home to startups, IT professionals, education companies and NGOs, while its spaces are open to anyone looking for a place to work, meet, learn or organise events.

“Our investment in INOTEK is an investment in the development of southern Moldova. We are supporting the centre’s team as it grows, so that its four floors of community space are brought to life by organisations making a meaningful difference, with services priced on the basis of accurately calculated costs. We invite companies across the region to discover the services and training opportunities available at INOTEK—it is growth infrastructure designed for them, close to home,” said Stella Jemna, UMAEF Country Representative.

The centre’s results in figures

More than 14,500 people have benefited from INOTEK’s programmes since its launch, including over 10,000 participants in STEAM and digital skills programmes and more than 2,500 in entrepreneurship and community programmes.

The centre has organised or hosted approximately 200 events, while more than 2,000 people have used its facilities.