Over the last decade, Moldova has rapidly transformed into one of Eastern Europe’s most dynamic digital economies. The ICT sector already contributes around five percent of the country’s GDP, growing consistently at double-digit rates, while government policies foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and international investment. With more than 300 public services now available online, the state and its citizens have saved an estimated €2 billion, positioning Moldova among the region’s leaders in digital transformation. This September, Moldova will showcase its ambition to extend that leadership into deep technology with the DeepTech GigaHack 2025 – one of the largest hackathons in the region. On this platform, over 300 innovators from over 10 countries will gather for 48 hours of prototyping, collaboration, and breakthrough solutions. Participants will include senior engineers, startup founders, students, designers, researchers, and international investors.“DeepTech GigaHack is more than a competition – it’s Moldova’s innovation movement in action. Here, talent meets opportunity from private partners, and bold ideas turn into scalable tech solutions. GigaHack is also part of a bigger story: Moldova positioning itself as Central and Eastern Europe’s gateway to digital innovation. With strong backing from government, academia, private companies and international partners, Deeptech GigaHack connects local talent to global markets,” says Mary Nemciuc, CEO of Technovator.
Eight strategic challenges at DeepTech GigaHack 2025
Now in its third edition, GigaHack has grown into a landmark event for Moldova’s innovation ecosystem. Building on the success of last year’s edition – which brought together 57 teams – the 2025 hackathon will challenge participants to solve real-world problems in eight strategic sectors.
In EnergyTech, teams will shape the future of sustainability by creating prototypes that optimize real-time energy consumption. In AI-Powered Parking, innovators will design a hybrid assistant that reimagines mobility and replaces traditional parking operators. HealthTech unlocks the power of AI in healthcare, developing modules that analyze medical data and support life-saving diagnoses, while the Cybersecurity challenge builds next-generation defenses for EVO – the one-stop shop app for all Moldova’s digital public services, detecting threats and reporting incidents in real time. In FinTech, pioneers will focus on secure data anonymization, enabling safe adoption of advanced LLMs. CyberEduQuest inspires digital resilience through a gamified app that trains users to outsmart online threats, and AgriTech drives transformation in agriculture with tools that make data sharing seamless, transparent, and future-ready. The Open Challenge invites visionaries to push boundaries with groundbreaking solutions in fields like Space, Nanotech, and BioTech.
At its core, GigaHack 2025 is the place where bold ideas meet real impact, a stage where dreamers, builders, and problem-solvers come together to create functional prototypes that can change industries, communities, and the world.
From local talent to global impact
The impact of GigaHack extends well past the 48-hour sprint. Previous editions have led to transformative prototypes, new startup initiatives, and ongoing partnerships with industry leaders, such as Fineguide.ai. This edition, organizers aim to amplify that effect by connecting participants with corporate partners, providing access to critical datasets, and ensuring post-event incubation for the most promising solutions. By focusing on real-world problems – from AI-assisted medical diagnostics and sustainable energy solutions to cybersecurity education and next-generation FinTech applications – DeepTech GigaHack 2025 underscores Moldova’s readiness to compete and collaborate on the global stage. The event is more than just a hackathon: it is a statement of intent. It demonstrates that a small country can deliver big ideas with global impact, powered by a young, skilled, and ambitious tech community. From students and junior developers to seasoned professionals and investors, GigaHack brings together all generations of innovators. It is both a launchpad for future startups and a platform for collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector.
About DeepTech GigaHack 2025
DeepTech GigaHack is organized with the support of EU4Innovation East, a regional project financed by the European Union and co-financed by the Government of France, implemented by Expertise France. The hackathon is co-organized by Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF), UNDP Moldova, the Government of Italy, and Innovate Moldova (funded by Sweden). Corporate partners include Orange Systems, Orbility, Beden Grup Healthcare Systems, E-Governance Academy (Estonia), EIT Food, and Fineguide.ai.
