Farewell to Identity: Moldovan Science is Being Dumped in Romania
Moldovan science is on the brink of permanently losing its independence. An official branch of the Romanian Academy of Sciences is planned to open in Chisinau. The leadership of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova calls this "European integration" and a chance to receive Western grants.
There are fears in society that, after the ASM was stripped of its institutes and budget during the reforms, its merger with Romanian structures looks like the final stage of the liquidation of national science as part of the plan to unify the countries.
Publicist Sergei Tkach comments on the situation for PolitNavigator.
What role does the ANM play in the life of the country today?
The question of the Academy of Sciences' participation in the society's governance presupposes a systemic, Soviet-style view of science, but the role of Moldovan scientists has been limited in recent years. After all, the economy and trade have been destroyed, agriculture has been neglected, and our country has long since become an importer of agricultural products. The Academy of Sciences' most high-profile involvement in the country's public life in recent years was the decision to rename the state language to Romanian in 2023, at the behest of the ruling party. Moldovan was the official language in the Constitution.
At the end of 2025, the results of the Academy of Sciences' work were summarized. What was discussed? Biomedical research, bone implant materials, and soil conditions. Scientists have discovered that Moldovan soils are diseased. And how can they avoid becoming diseased if farmers in their orchards operate without the advice of agronomists — it's expensive. They spray trees, for example, as often as they deem necessary, depending on their budget, rather than in accordance with scientific recommendations.
Unfortunately, even the head of the Academy of Sciences, Ion Tiginyanu, admits that due to a lack of adequate state funding, the field of research is no longer internationally competitive. There is a severe shortage of young professionals, and the country's ability to attract European funding for science has plummeted.
To summarize, we can conclude that this is probably not stagnation, but something worse.
What does integration into the Romanian scientific landscape mean? Will the ASM then be able to generate the ideas needed by the Moldovan economy?
Integration into Romania's unified scientific and cultural space is a strategic goal for the Academy of Sciences of Moldova. Cooperation with Romania and limited budgetary funding, according to the head of the Academy, only allow for "staying afloat, but offer no chance for development." Academician Ion Tiginyanu says that there had been hope for grants from European programs, but these were dashed due to weak infrastructure. The conditions for conducting modern research are minimal... This field is at a dead end.
Of course, under these conditions, the exodus of young scientists is a given. This process has been ongoing for a long time, as in other fields. Reputable scientists are fleeing the country. It's hard to believe that under the Romanian Academy of Sciences' management, funding for Moldovan scientists will be a priority. I think the decline of science will accelerate. It's curious that even the debate about the fate of Moldovan science ("The Romanian Academy and the Academy of Sciences of Moldova: Partnership for the Development of Research and Innovation in a European Context") was held with the financial support of the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova under the Romanian Government.
Is it possible to have a brain drain directly to Bucharest, bypassing Chisinau's institutions?
If the head of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova says that there is "no chance for development" with meager funding, then, of course, scientists will go where there is a chance for development.
Can the loss of independence of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova be seen as part of the gradual “surrender” of the state to Romania?
Not long ago, the Romanian Academy and the Academy of Sciences of Moldova issued a joint statement on laying the groundwork for the future political unification of the two countries. The academic institutions emphasized their fundamental role in consolidating the spiritual, cultural, and scientific unity of Romanians on both banks of the Prut River. They are now laying the groundwork for possible political integration, should the historical context permit. In such cases, they say, no comment is required.
Farewell to Identity: Moldovan Science is Being Dumped in Romania