The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Europe and Central Asia, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, has announced the 12 organizations selected to join the BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator in Moldova and Ukraine: six entities in the Republic of Moldova and six in Ukraine.  

48 organisations from the Republic of Moldova applied to the call, demonstrating strong demand for opportunities to strengthen the organizations that support local entrepreneurship and innovation, in particular outside of the capital city and towns. 

The selected organisations include entrepreneurship hubs, local groups, regional or local development institutions, educational or innovation centers. They bring expertise in startup acceleration, rural enterprise development, agriculture and food production, energy resilience, digital transformation and community innovation. The organisations offer access to business support for women, young people and other underserved groups. 

The selected organisations from the Republic of Moldova are: 

• Association for Business Education and Development – Provides business education, advisory services and networking opportunities for micro and small enterprises. 
• Generația NIKA (Yep!Moldova) – Supports startups through hackathons, acceleration programmes and entrepreneurship development. 
• GLIA Impact Hub/Association of Women Entrepreneurs from Moldova – Supports women entrepreneurs and early-stage founders, including those in underserved communities. 
• Inotek Foundation – Provides training, mentoring, incubation and digital support to entrepreneurs and SMEs in the south of Moldova. 
• Local Action Group “Trei Coline” – Supports rural development, entrepreneurship and community-led initiatives across 21 villages. 
• META Moldova – Promotes youth entrepreneurship and community innovation through a network of more than 470 educators. 

BOOST programme sets out to strengthen economic resilience and recovery, advance green and digital transformation, expand access for underserved individuals and communities, and build stronger, more connected local innovation ecosystems.

“Entrepreneurs do not grow in isolation. They need strong local organizations that can connect ideas with knowledge, networks and opportunities. This cohort brings together organizations with deep roots in their communities and clear ambitions for more inclusive, resilient innovation ecosystems. Through BOOST, we will help them strengthen their own business models and extend the quality and reach of the support available to entrepreneurs across Moldova and Ukraine,” said Louise Skärvall, BOOST Lead, UNDP. 

Beginning in September 2026, participants will take part in a structured acceleration journey combining expert-led workshops, one-to-one mentorship, peer exchange and practical work. 

The curriculum will cover mission-oriented innovation, impact management, business model innovation and new tools and approaches. 

The programme will also include BOOSTCamp, an in-person residency in Warsaw in October 2026. The participating organizations will work with Polish innovation experts and the wider BOOST network. 

By the end of the Accelerator, each organization will have further developed a locally led programme designed to support innovators such as students, startups and micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises in its community. Graduating organizations will then be invited to submit full proposals, with at least five selected to receive grants of US$50,000 each to implement their programmes in 2027. 

The BOOST: Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator is powered by UNDP in Europe and Central Asia and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland through the Polish Aid programme. It reflects a shared commitment to strengthening green recovery, economic resilience and long-term transformation in Moldova and Ukraine.