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Ref.
2026/ENSCSECIAPEM/16258

Job offer type
Experts

Type of contract
Fixed-term contract (CDD)

Deadline date
2026/10/12 23:59

Contract
Freelancer

Duration
15 months

Mission description

Agrotek Park, established under Government Decision No. 528/2025 on the premises of the Technical University of Moldova (UTM), is being operationalised as Moldova’s first agro-innovation industrial park of Category B. Its development requires clear strategic priorities, services that respond to the needs of researchers and companies, and partnerships that connect Moldovan actors with relevant European expertise and markets.

EU4Innovation East is supporting complementary legal and operational work on the framework for science and technology parks. This assignment will provide Agrotek Park and its partners with practical strategic advice and help turn international contacts into feasible cooperation. It will begin with a study visit to Lyon and Dijon, France, where the expert will accompany the Moldovan delegation at all meetings and help identify practices and partners relevant to Agrotek Park. Follow-up will include a visit to Moldova and remote advisory work over the remainder of the assignment.

Objectives

The assignment aims to help Agrotek Park define and advance a focused development path and establish useful international collaboration. Specifically, the expert shall:

•         advise on Agrotek Park’s positioning, priority services, partnership model and phased development;

•         use the Lyon and Dijon study visit to test ideas, build relationships and identify practices that can be adapted in Moldova;

•         support dialogue among Agrotek Park, UTM, public authorities, industry and other ecosystem actors on strategic choices;

•         identify and help advance a small number of realistic international cooperation opportunities; and

•         provide ongoing strategic advice and brainstorming as Agrotek Park moves from planning to implementation.

Tasks

Phase 1 – Inception and strategic orientation. The expert shall review the available Agrotek Park plans and relevant programme outputs, hold initial discussions with Expertise France, Agrotek Park and UTM, identify immediate strategic questions, and agree an advisory work plan and priorities for the France study visit. The expert will coordinate with the complementary legal and operational experts where their work affects the park’s strategy.

Phase 2 – Study visit to Lyon and Dijon. In coordination with Expertise France, the expert shall help shape the substantive agenda and identify relevant French counterparts in areas such as agri-food innovation, university-industry cooperation, park and cluster management, applied research, startup support and internationalisation. The expert shall prepare discussion questions and a concise briefing for Agrotek Park, accompany the delegation at all meetings, facilitate exchanges and capture actionable lessons and potential partner leads. The 7–10 days allocated to this phase include preparation and participation in the visit. Expertise France will validate the programme and manage travel and logistical procurement unless otherwise agreed.

Phase 3 – Moldova follow-up and strategic dialogue. After the visit, the expert shall make one follow-up visit to Moldova to discuss the findings with Agrotek Park, UTM, Expertise France and relevant stakeholders; facilitate a strategy and partnership brainstorming session; and agree which ideas merit further development. The expert shall distinguish actions Agrotek Park can take promptly from those requiring policy decisions, investment or further analysis.

Phase 4 – Remote strategic advice and international collaboration. Over the remaining assignment period, the expert shall join agreed remote advisory meetings, review selected strategy or partnership materials, advise on the park’s value proposition, services, governance interfaces, sustainability and stakeholder engagement, and support targeted follow-up with French or other international counterparts. This may include introductions, meeting preparation, concise cooperation concepts and advice on relevant networks or funding opportunities. The expert shall focus on partnerships with a clear purpose, counterpart, next step and Agrotek Park owner.

Phase 5 – Consolidation and handover. The expert shall consolidate recommendations into a short, prioritised action roadmap for approximately the next 12–18 months, with proposed leads, dependencies and indicators of progress. The roadmap shall reflect the available capacity and resources of Agrotek Park and align with the complementary legal and operational work.

Expected deliverables and indicative delivery plan

The exact schedule will be agreed at inception in line with the confirmed visit dates. Deliverables should be concise and practical; routine advice may be documented through brief meeting notes or comments on working documents.

No.

Deliverable

Indicative timing and content

1

Inception note and advisory work plan

Within the first month; key questions, stakeholders, priorities, proposed use of days and visit focus.

2

France visit briefing and substantive agenda input

Before the visit; proposed counterparts, discussion questions and Agrotek Park objectives for each meeting.

3

Visit debrief and cooperation opportunity note

Within 10 working days after the visit; relevant lessons, partner leads, feasible follow-up and responsibilities.

4

Moldova visit and strategic dialogue note

After the follow-up visit; decisions, unresolved questions and agreed next steps.

5

Targeted advisory inputs and partnership follow-up

Throughout the assignment; meeting notes, reviewed materials and short cooperation concepts as agreed.

6

Prioritised roadmap and final handover note

By the end of the assignment; 12–18 month action roadmap, partnership status and recommendations for continuation.

 

Project or context description

EU4Innovation East is a regional project funded by the European Union, co-funded by France and implemented by Expertise France, supporting the competitiveness and maturity of startup and innovation ecosystems in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Required profile

Qualifications and skills

•         Advanced university degree in innovation management, business, economics, public policy, agriculture, food systems or another relevant field;

•         excellent strategic analysis, facilitation, stakeholder engagement and concise writing skills;

•         excellent command of English and French; knowledge of Romanian is an asset.

Professional experience

•         At least 10 years of relevant experience in innovation ecosystem development, science and technology parks, clusters, university-industry cooperation or related international advisory work;

•         demonstrated experience advising innovation organisations on strategy, services, partnerships and implementation priorities;

•         proven ability to convene and facilitate high-level dialogue and work effectively with universities, ministries and other national institutions, local authorities, private sector organisations and international partners, including in France; and

•         experience with EU-funded or other international cooperation programmes and with study visits or institutional exchanges.

Assets

Knowledge of agri-food and AgTech innovation, the French ecosystems in Lyon and Dijon, and the Moldovan innovation context will be considered assets.

Additional information

Logistics, timeframe and reporting

The assignment will run for approximately 15 months, with a maximum level of effort of 30 working days. An indicative 7–10 days will be used for substantive preparation and accompaniment of the Lyon and Dijon study visit, including participation in all delegation meetings. The remaining days will cover one follow-up visit to Moldova, remote advisory meetings, targeted international partner follow-up and finalisation of outputs. The allocation will be agreed at inception and adjusted within the 30-day ceiling as needs evolve.

The expert will work under the supervision of Expertise France / EU4Innovation East and in close coordination with Agrotek Park, UTM and relevant programme experts. Working languages are English and French; written deliverables will be in English unless otherwise agreed. Monthly timesheets and concise progress updates linked to work performed will be submitted to Expertise France. Travel, external commitments and expenditure require prior approval and must follow applicable contractual procedures. The expert shall respect confidentiality and applicable data-protection requirements.

Application process

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documents in English:

•         a CV highlighting relevant strategic advisory, innovation park and international partnership experience, including examples of comparable assignments;

•         a cover letter of no more than two pages explaining the proposed approach and relevant networks in France; and

•         an indication of the expected daily fee rate in EUR, in accordance with the call for applications.

Only shortlisted candidates may be contacted for further assessment. The Contracting Authority may request supporting documents and references. Experts must be independent and free from conflicts of interest in the responsibilities defined by these Terms of Reference.

Deadline for application : 2026/10/12 23:59

Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :

  • democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
  • peace, stability, and security ;
  • climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
  • health and human development ;

In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results. 

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