AGENTIA NATIONALA PENTRU CERCETARE SI DEZVOLTARE

Their core work

Moldova's National Agency for Research and Development (ANCD) is the government body responsible for coordinating the country's participation in EU framework programmes. They operate National Contact Points (NCPs) across multiple Horizon 2020 pillars, providing training, consulting, and support services to Moldovan researchers and SMEs seeking EU funding. ANCD also co-funds transnational research through ERA-NET partnerships, particularly in water management, environmental restoration, and antimicrobial resistance. Their role is fundamentally that of a national gateway — bridging Moldovan science and innovation capacity with the European Research Area.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2014–2018), ANCD focused heavily on building foundational infrastructure for EU participation: NCP training, researcher mobility (EURAXESS), and bilateral cooperation frameworks with Black Sea and Eastern Partnership countries. From 2018 onward, the focus shifted toward thematic substance — SME innovation support specific to Moldova, environmental ERA-NET cofunds in water and biodiversity, and health topics like antimicrobial resistance. This evolution shows a maturation from "learning to participate in EU programmes" toward "contributing to specific research agendas through joint programming."

ANCD is moving from pure programme support toward thematic co-funding in environment and health, making them increasingly relevant as an ERA-NET partner for water, biodiversity, and AMR topics.

How they like to work

ANCD participates exclusively as a partner — they have never coordinated an H2020 project. With 165 unique consortium partners across 54 countries, they operate as a high-connectivity node rather than a deep bilateral partner, which is typical for a national funding agency that joins broad coordination actions. Working with ANCD means gaining access to Moldova's national research funding mechanisms and researcher networks, not technical research capacity.

Remarkably broad network for an associated country agency: 165 unique partners across 54 countries, driven by large CSA and ERA-NET consortia. Geographic reach extends well beyond Europe into Black Sea, Eastern Partnership, and global water governance networks.

What sets them apart

ANCD is the single gateway to Moldova's national research and innovation system within EU framework programmes. For consortium builders, they offer what no other Moldovan organization can: official national representation, co-funding commitments through ERA-NET mechanisms, and the ability to mobilize Moldovan research teams across disciplines. Their value is institutional access, not bench science — partner with them when you need Moldova in your consortium or want to include Eastern Partnership countries in your project geography.

Highlights from their portfolio

• JPIAMR-ACTION
  Their largest single grant (EUR 125,812) and a departure into health — coordinating antimicrobial resistance research across national funding agencies through 2026.
• BiodivRestore
  Long-running ERA-NET (2020-2026) on ecosystem restoration governance, representing ANCD's deepening engagement with environmental joint programming.
• EaP PLUS
  Their best-funded cooperation project (EUR 67,875) and the most direct expression of their role bridging Eastern Partnership countries with EU research.