The Role of the University of Life Sciences in transforming Moldova’s infrastructure and economy. Interview with Prorector Ștefan Gavril 

The University of Life Sciences “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” in Iași is one of the most important higher education institutions in Romania, dedicated to research and education in the fields of agricultural and life sciences

In the context of regional development and improved connectivity brought by the A7 Highway, the university has the opportunity to collaborate more closely with the economic sector, expand its research projects, and attract new students and partnerships. In this interview, we aim to explore the perspective of Mr. Prorector Ștefan Gavril regarding the impact of modern infrastructure and how the university can contribute to the region’s development through innovation and education.

How do you see the impact of the A7 Highway on the mobility of students and faculty members at the University of Life Sciences “Ion Ionescu de la Brad”?

A region is developed or not based on its access to people—ideas and creativity—access to resources—technologies, products, markets, capital in various forms—and access to the future—innovation and time. Our region, Moldova—the North-East Region—is perceived as an isolated area in Romania and the European Union, lacking modern road infrastructure. As a result, all development efforts are either extinguished or grow very slowly under the pressure of isolation—we spend almost 2 hours on average to cover a distance of 100 km instead of using those 2 hours for productive or relaxing activities.

The A7 Highway will reduce this isolation, facilitating a more dynamic exchange of ideas, innovations, and resources. It will change the balance between wasted economic time and gained economic time. Just by improving economic time management, accessibility, attractiveness, and academic collaboration will increase.

The gained time will contribute to the region’s economic development and support more frequent interactions with other university centers in the country, providing new opportunities for students and professors. Certainly, the impact of this highway on the mobility of students, faculty, partners, and collaborators at our university and the entire academic environment in Iași will be significant and, equally, positive.

How do you think the A7 Highway will contribute to attracting students from other regions of the country and from abroad to your university?

As I mentioned, the highway will significantly shorten travel times to Iași from other regions of the country, especially from the south and east of Romania. Students from counties such as Buzău, Vrancea, Galați, and even Constanța, Tulcea will be able to reach our university more easily. On a macro level, A7 will act as an attractiveness enhancer for the entire Moldova area and for the universities here—in Iași, Bacău, and Suceava.

For example, well-connected cities tend to attract investments, stimulate tourism, and cultural events, creating a vibrant urban environment, which is an important factor in students’ decisions when choosing a university. The A7 Highway can contribute to strengthening this type of environment, increasing young people’s interest in studying at the University of Life Sciences and transforming it into an educational and innovation HUB in agribusiness.

How can the University of Life Sciences contribute to regional development in the context of the A7 Highway’s completion?

In the context of the development brought by A7, the university can become a center of consultancy and expertise for the development of agriculture, social infrastructure, and education in local communities. Through research and development projects, entrepreneurial projects, educational and community initiatives, the university can contribute to the development of farms and businesses in the region, offering expertise, innovative solutions, and modern techniques that will improve productivity and sustainability.

The highway will facilitate access for specialists and researchers to farms throughout the region and encourage cooperation between academia and the private sector. For example, through the dual education campus developed in partnership with the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University, we offer training programs and professional development courses for farmers, entrepreneurs, and other economic actors in essential sectors of the local economy. With the improved connectivity brought by the highway, the university will be able to more easily organize seminars, conferences, fairs, and workshops with regional impact. This will facilitate access to quality education for residents in the counties through which A7 passes, contributing to increasing the skills of the local workforce.

A7 becomes a platform of opportunities for all universities in the Moldova area, providing them with the chance to make a significant contribution to regional development. Through applied research, professional training, collaborations with the private sector, promoting entrepreneurship, and supporting sustainable development initiatives, the university can play a key role in the economic and social transformation of the region. The highway will not only facilitate mobility but will stimulate innovation and intra- and interregional collaborations that will contribute to the prosperity of local communities.

What are the main research initiatives of the university that could support regional economic growth in the context of the new opportunities offered by the A7 Highway?

Through our applied research in agriculture, food industry, rural development, environmental protection, biotechnology, and rural entrepreneurship, the university will contribute to the development of new industries in the region. Until now, geographical isolation has placed our region last in Romania in terms of foreign direct investments, and Iași doesn’t even make it into the top 10. Essentially, the lack of modern mobility for capital has excluded our area from the development game—today’s development level is over 90% based on local efforts. A7 will stimulate the implementation of industries capable of facing the challenges of the new economic revolution—deglobalization, climate change, digitization, etc.

How can the university collaborate with the agricultural sector and local companies to leverage the potential brought by this infrastructure?

Through its current activities, the university already plays a crucial role in transferring technologies and best practices to local farmers and companies, such as:

• pilot projects, innovation labs, and applied research partnerships: together with companies, we develop and test new technologies that can later be applied on a large scale;
• on-field training and qualification programs: we offer practical training courses within partner farms, addressing topics such as precision agriculture, drone usage, or sustainable agriculture, and we develop dual education for certain essential skills in agriculture;
• business incubators and innovation contests: we fund agricultural start-ups, where farmers and local entrepreneurs can receive support in business idea development, funding, and market access.

These are just a few examples of how the “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences can effectively collaborate with the agricultural sector and local companies to leverage the potential brought by the A7 Highway, through technological transfer initiatives, professional training, support for entrepreneurship, and joint research projects.

What are the university’s plans to attract European funds and develop international projects in the life sciences field?

The “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences in Iași has significant potential to attract European funds and develop international projects in the life sciences field. This is achieved through a well-defined strategy that includes an organizational structure based on the rector’s initiative to establish a Major Projects Department in 2020. Through this department, we access all opportunities offered by European programs, such as the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, INTERREG, the North-East Regional Program, etc.

Additionally, we have strategic partnerships with universities and research institutes abroad, whose results can position the university as a regional leader in the life sciences field, contributing to economic growth and innovation in agriculture and environmental protection.

What impact do you foresee the development of the A7 Highway will have on research in areas such as agriculture, environmental protection, and rural development?

Regarding agriculture, the A7 will facilitate the rapid transport of agricultural products to national and international markets, allowing entrepreneurs to achieve better prices and lower transportation costs. Access to markets means access to money. Money – this seemingly trivial word – funds research, and research underpins development, innovation, efficiency, and productivity technologies.

Regarding environmental protection, simply reducing travel times and the time our vehicle engines remain running means a lot for the environment – we will pollute much less. Of course, we are currently under the pressure of climate change, and research in this area will focus on projects related to climate resilience, including flood and drought risk management, essential aspects in the context of road infrastructure development. The highway can stimulate the development of innovative solutions for managing these risks and implementing sustainable environmental practices in collaboration with local authorities.

As mentioned earlier, rural development is directly related to access to ideas, resources, and time. With the development of the A7, rural communities will become better connected to major economic centers, opening up new opportunities for residents in these areas. Research in rural development will benefit from this infrastructure, with the university being able to carry out projects to support farm modernization, the development of rural tourism businesses, or the processing of agricultural products.

Research will also contribute to finding solutions to combat rural depopulation, the development of educational infrastructure and services, and improving quality of life in these areas. The A7 Highway will also facilitate the creation of research centers and innovation incubators in adjacent rural or agricultural areas. These centers could support local farmers and entrepreneurs through consultancy, access to technology, and professional training, contributing to regional economic development.

How can the university support the training of specialists in agriculture and environmental protection, considering the new demands of the regional and national markets?

The “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences plays an important role in training specialists in agriculture, rural economy, and environmental protection by adapting to the demands of regional and national markets. Through curriculum updates – courses in digital agriculture, biotechnology, circular economy, big data, and artificial intelligence – the development of partnerships with the private sector – internships, dual education, pilot projects, living labs – the integration of new technologies, and stimulating applied research and entrepreneurship – mentorship, business incubators – the university prepares graduates capable of facing challenges in their field and actively contributing to the sustainable economic development of the region.

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