The International Forum “Strengthening the Knowledge Triangle in the Republic of Moldova” (TRIANGLE), 4th edition, organized with the support of the European Commission by means of the INTEGRA Project “Jean Monnet Center for Excellence in European Studies of Economic Integration”, is held in the period 26-27 April this year, at the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (AESM). The purpose of the event is to encourage international cooperation between Moldovan higher education institutions and European universities and to support the strengthening of the role of universities by linking education, research and innovation into a knowledge triangle in Moldova.
The event is attended by students, university teaching staff, public officials, professional groups and representatives of civil society, university leaders, as well as interested people who are part of the higher education and research system; representatives of the Rectors’ Council of the Republic of Moldova, public authorities, entrepreneurs and young researchers from the Republic of Moldova and the European Union.
The Forum was opened with a presentation of the education, research and innovation link of the knowledge triangle at the systemic level through the vision of the host country - the Republic of Moldova, while taking into account the European Commission’s viewpoint on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and being informed by national and European academics. Each of the key features of the knowledge triangle has been analyzed in detail.
During the first day of the event, the Counselor of the Director General of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) Svetlana Munteanu presented to the participants the communication “Innovation and Creativity for the Economy: Sustainable Design in an Innovation-Based Economy - Challenges for the Republic of Moldova”, in which she revealed the indispensable link between innovation, creativity and knowledge, the contribution of intellectual property rights to economic development and improvement of the quality of life; the role of sustainable design in the broad sense of this concept in sustainable development, which for the Republic of Moldova is becoming more and more current due to limited natural resources, especially energetic and aquatic, as well as the poor ecological status of our country. Examples of industrial design registrations, as well as numerous examples of original works of students that fall into the category of sustainable design have been brought, being emphasized the importance of ensuring the protection of intellectual property rights in order to have the opportunity to capitalize them and to obtain economic benefits. Also, special emphasis was placed on geographical indications for the implementation of sustainable development policies, especially for our country.
At the same time, Svetlana Munteanu informed the participants in the Forum about the celebration of World Intellectual Property Day on 26 April, which this year is held under the theme “Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity”, addressing them on the occasion of said event, on behalf of AGEPI Director General Lilia Bolocan, a greeting message and health wishes, creative inspiration, new achievements and prosperity.
The two parallel sessions of the Forum (with interactive workshops, roundtable sessions and panel discussions) will develop major themes, namely: identifying vocational education within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), creating knowledge in institutions that have a close relationship with stakeholders, and the last topic will explain how we can ensure the functioning of the knowledge triangle for the benefit of institutions, students and graduates.