Research and innovation generate progress at ”Nicolae Testemitanu” University

In 2025, ”Nicolae Testemitanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Republic of Moldova recorded an obvious and sustained evolution of scientific performance, confirmed both by bibliometric indicators and by remarkable results in the field of intellectual property and innovation.

According to a ranking recently published by the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova (MEC), in terms of research and innovation, ”Nicolae Testemitanu” University is the national leader with the most articles indexed in the scientometric databases Web of Science and Scopus and ranks third in terms of the volume of funds attracted for research from national and international projects, as well as from the "Horizon Europe" program.

The scientific production indexed in the Scopus database constitutes a total of 1591 works indexed in Scopus, of which 957 are cited articles, 28983 citations. The number of works increased from 196 (in 2024) to 228 in 2025, the Hirsch index in Scopus reached 66 (from 57 in 2024), thus marking a positive dynamic of publication in international journals and the consolidation of the institutional capacity for competitive research.

At the same time, the presence in the Web of Science database, overall, constitutes 1755 indexed works, 23449 citations, the number of indexed works grew by 201 in 2025 (127 in 2024), and the Hirsch index increased to 58 (from 52 in 2024), reflecting an increasingly consistent integration into the global scientific circuit.

These indicators confirm not only numerical evaluation, but also consolidated academic impact and continuity in performance. At the same time, Nicolae Testemitanu University ranks first among the four higher education and research institutions of the country that are listed in the SCImago Institutions Rankings, edition 2025, this achievement representing an additional validation of the quality of publications and international scientific cooperation.

This bibliometric growth correlates with an intense activity in the field of innovation. In 2025, teaching and scientific-didactic staff obtained 170 intellectual property objects, including patents, copyright certificates and innovator certificates implemented in teaching and scientific-practical processes. Researchers and inventors of the University participated in 19 invention and technology transfer exhibitions, 16 of which were international, obtaining a total of 197 medals and distinctions, including 19 special awards. In this regard, it should be specified that Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy won, for the first time, the Grand Prize at the European Exhibition of Creativity and Innovation "EUROINVENT" (8-10 May 2025, Iasi, Romania) for its remarkable presence with inventions, years in a row, this distinction being a culmination of many years of creation and hard work in support of academic research. Moreover, ”Nicolae Testemitanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy was awarded the "National Prize of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for Entrepreneurship - 2025" within the framework of the "INFOINVENT" International Specialized Exhibition, in appreciation of the substantial contributions to the advancement of medical research and the valorization of technologies with direct applicability in clinical practice. The university received a similar award in 2005.

Jana Chihai, vice-rector for research and innovation, emphasized that all these results "highlight a growth trajectory both in indexed scientific production and in the impact of citations, as well as in the applicative valorization of research. Nicolae Testemitanu University thus consolidates its position as a reference institution in biomedical research in the Republic of Moldova, demonstrating strategic maturity, international competitiveness and constant orientation towards excellence."

According to the vice-rector, the laboratories of the Health and Biomedicine Research Center within the National Institute for Health and Medical Research of the University were developed thanks to the successful implementation of the subprojects FORCE_Med (Strengthening education through research in medicine within Nicolae Testemitanu University) and Force_Farm (Modernization and strengthening education through research in pharmacy and medicine within Nicolae Testemitanu University). The subprojects are part of the "Moldova Higher Education" project, implemented by the Ministry of Education and Research with the financial support of the World Bank.

First Vice-Rector Olga Cernetchi has stated that the University is ready for the third round of the project, which involves the development of the research and internationalization component. "For us, the implementation of the concept of education through research is a priority in order to increase the quality of medical and pharmaceutical higher education, in accordance with the University's Strategic Development Plan for the period 2021-2030, while innovation, technology transfer and internationalization are basic objectives that we achieve by applying international good practices," the First Vice-Rector pointed out.

”Nicolae Testemitanu” University will continue to invest in the professional development of human resources for research and innovation activities, and to modernize the research infrastructure both from its own resources and through international projects.