Science – The Foundation of Continuity and Hope. New Year’s Message Addressed to the People of Science and Culture of the Republic of Moldova

December 23, 2025

Distinguished members of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Esteemed researchers and people of culture,

The year 2025 draws to a close under the sign of profound significance for the Republic of Moldova, being a year of reflection, consolidation, and reaffirmation of the values that define us as a society and as a spiritual space. At the joint initiative of the Romanian Academy and the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, 2025 was declared the Mihai Eminescu Year, an occasion for a symbolic return to our roots, to the traditions, culture, and authentic values that constitute the foundation of our identity.

In a context marked by geopolitical hurricanes, by the war in our immediate vicinity, and by internal unrest, the European path of the Republic of Moldova has continued with firmness. This journey is not merely a political or economic one, but also a deeply cultural one, based on authentic traditions and values that guarantee a natural and irreversible rapprochement of the two banks of the Prut, in the spirit of the unity of the Romanian people and European values.

The year that is ending has also witnessed an unprecedented rapprochement between two sister academies – the Romanian Academy and the Academy of Sciences of Moldova –, joined actively by four branch academies from Romania: the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Academy of Juridical Sciences, the Academy of Technical Sciences, and the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences. This academic cooperation represents a model of intellectual solidarity and proof that science knows no artificial borders, but is built through dialogue, cooperation, and a shared vision.

A landmark moment of 2025 was the international forum “The Role of Science in the Modern World – Artificial Intelligence. The Challenge of the 21st Century,” held on November 6 current year, which brought together first-rate scientific personalities. The contributions of Prof. Peter Gluckman, President of the International Science Council, and of Prof. James Rothman, Nobel Laureate in Medicine, reaffirmed the fundamental role of science in human progress. Reflecting on the impact of research on the human condition, Professor Rothman rightly emphasized that the average human lifespan would have been between 25 and 30 years today, had the explosive development of science over the last two centuries not existed.

The Academy of Sciences of Moldova has contributed to this global progress over the decades—an institution which, through the effort of several generations of elite researchers, has written important pages in the history of science. Next year, we will mark the 65th anniversary of the Academy, a moment for evaluation, but also of commitment to the future.

We have a moral duty to be worthy of our predecessors, to consolidate, and to contribute fully to the development of the Republic of Moldova, to its sustainable modernization, and to the successful realization of its European path. Let us carry forward, with dignity and responsibility, the torch of scientific research, upon which the progress of society and the quality of life of future generations depend.

In this spirit of hope and continuity, I address to you, distinguished members of the Academy, esteemed researchers and people of culture, my most sincere wishes for good health, inspiration, and creative power. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year – 2026 rich in achievements, in step with the expectations of society and the vocation you serve!

Happy New Year!

Acad. Ion Tighineanu President of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova