Acad. Ion Tighineanu : “I am convinced that the Republic of Moldova possesses the necessary potential to assert its presence ever more strongly on the world’s scientific map.”

November 10 – International Science Day for Peace and Development

World Science Day for Peace and Development was established by UNESCO in 2001 and celebrated worldwide for the first time in 2002. Every year, UNESCO proposes a central theme meant to guide debates and events organized in various countries around the world. The year 2026 unfolds under the theme “Global Science for Global Wellbeing”. International experience demonstrates that transcontinental scientific partnerships and sustained investments in education and research stimulate innovation, facilitate knowledge exchange, and contribute to scientific and technological progress on a global scale. Recently, Academician Ion Tighineanu, President of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (ASM), undertook a working visit to China, a country he has also visited in previous years. Interest in China’s spectacular transformations, having become one of the world’s major scientific, technological, and economic powers, is continuously growing. On the eve of World Science Day for Peace and Development, we requested an interview with Academician Ion Tighineanu regarding his experiences visiting China, the dynamics of this country’s scientific and technological development, and the prospects for expanding scientific collaboration between the Republic of Moldova and China.

— Mr. Academician, you recently returned from China, where you participated in several international scientific events. What impressions did you return home with?

— First of all, with a strong sense of optimism. Every time I visit China, I am impressed by the dynamism of this country, the confidence in the ability of science and technology to transform society, and the extraordinary mobilization of the academic community. In Wuhan, I participated in international conferences, held meetings with researchers and laboratory heads, discussed joint projects, and contributed to the development of new scientific collaboration platforms. Everywhere I noticed an atmosphere of intense work, coupled with confidence in the future.

What particularly impressed me is that this optimism is not limited to declarations, but materializes in substantial investments in research, state-of-the-art scientific infrastructure, ambitious projects, and above all, in the active involvement of researchers, including the younger generation.

I returned home with an even stronger conviction: major scientific achievements are not only the result of individual talent, but also of the ability to unite efforts, cultivate mutual trust, and create an environment where creativity, initiative, and the spirit of collaboration can flourish.

— An important moment of the visit was the launch of the Moldovan-Chinese Joint Laboratory at the Wuhan University of Technology. What significance does this achievement hold, and what opportunities does it open up for the Republic of Moldova?

— The launch of the Moldovan-Chinese Joint Laboratory, dedicated to the development of materials and technologies for carbon emission reduction, represents an important step in strengthening our scientific cooperation with China. This initiative is the result of a long-standing academic dialogue, consolidated through reciprocal visits, participations in international conferences, scientific discussions, and the identification of common objectives. The laboratory’s activity will be oriented toward developing innovative materials and technologies, reducing the carbon footprint, promoting sustainable energy solutions, and exploring new directions of interdisciplinary research.

For the Republic of Moldova, the value of this partnership lies not only in the opportunity to benefit from modern research infrastructure, but also in the chance to participate directly in large-scale scientific projects. We have valuable researchers, original ideas, and internationally recognized results. What we often lack are the necessary resources to fully capitalize on this potential. Collaboration with high-performance laboratories allows us to overcome some of these limitations and tackle increasingly complex scientific challenges. Equally important is the opportunity to involve young researchers and doctoral students in joint projects, offering them access to international expertise, advanced technologies, and a competitive scientific environment that stimulates their creativity and professional development.

An authentic partnership, however, means much more than access to high-performance equipment. It entails the exchange of ideas and experience, the assumption of common responsibilities, the achievement of impactful scientific results, and their promotion internationally. In this way, we contribute not only to strengthening the visibility and prestige of the researchers involved, but also to increasing the competitiveness of our teams in attracting substantial funding through international research programs and competitions.

— A Moldovan-Chinese Multidisciplinary Autumn School was also organized in Wuhan and Chișinău, with the participation of internationally acclaimed scholars and young researchers. What role do you assign to these initiatives?

— I consider that training new generations of researchers is one of the most important responsibilities of the academic community. The Moldovan-Chinese Multidisciplinary Autumn School, held from October 13–15, 2026, brought together university professors, researchers, master’s, and doctoral students, providing a conducive framework for dialogue and the exchange of ideas on topical directions in science and technology.

We were delighted by the participation of prestigious scientific personalities, including Professor Klaus Mainzer, President of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and Honorary Member of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, who delivered a captivating lecture on artificial intelligence. Alongside researchers from China and the Republic of Moldova, renowned scholars from Japan, South Korea, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, and other countries also delivered lectures. A particularly important aspect of this School was its collaboration with over ten state key laboratories in China, which opened new prospects for initiating joint projects and involving young researchers in cutting-edge interdisciplinary fields.

Yet such schools also hold a deeper significance. They offer young people the opportunity to discover that science is not merely a profession, but also a fascinating intellectual adventure. An encounter, a direct dialogue with an internationally renowned scholar can spark curiosity, inspire a bold idea, and sometimes decisively influence a young researcher’s professional path. Therefore, investing in such initiatives is, essentially, an investment in the future.

— During the international scientific events in Wuhan, you also presented the results of your research in the field of nanotechnologies and advanced materials. What are the most promising directions?

— One of the most interesting directions we are developing in collaboration with international partners concerns the creation of a new class of adaptive multifunctional semiconductor architectures. This direction was largely inspired by our research on aerogalnit, known in scientific literature as the first artificial material with dual hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties — an ultra-lightweight material with an extremely porous three-dimensional structure.

In recent years, we have discovered that through the self-assembly of semiconductor microstructures into networks, surprising collective properties can emerge that are not characteristic of isolated elements. Nature offers us fascinating examples. For instance, fire ants interconnect to form floating structures capable of surviving floods. Heart cells, through electrical and mechanical interactions, ensure the coordinated contraction of the heart. Neural networks generate complex functionalities that exceed the capabilities of an isolated neuron.

Starting from such principles, we aim to develop semiconductor architectures where network topology, electromechanical interactions, and material composition can be utilized to control functional properties.

The perspective is very attractive for developing smart materials, flexible electronic systems, and devices capable of responding adaptively to external stimuli. The fundamental idea is simple yet profound: the interconnection of components can generate new functionalities, and controlling these interactions can open new horizons in materials science.

— What could the Republic of Moldova learn from China’s experience in research and innovation? Is it possible to apply this model in a country with limited resources?

— Of course, we cannot mechanically reproduce the experience of a country with China’s size and resources. But we can learn a few essential lessons. The first relates to the importance of a long-term strategic vision. Scientific research cannot produce major results if it is supported only sporadically. It requires continuity, predictability, and trust.

The second lesson concerns the strengthening of the academic community. In China, I encountered numerous examples of cooperation between universities, research institutes, and high-performance laboratories. This capacity for mobilization around common objectives constitutes an important factor of progress.

The third lesson is the orientation toward youth. A society that desires a knowledge-based future must invest in education, research, and the creation of real opportunities for talented young people.

These principles are fully applicable to the Republic of Moldova. We do not possess resources comparable to those of major economic powers, but we have valuable intellectual capital, a solid academic tradition, and multiple opportunities for international cooperation. At the sameil time, I believe that developing scientific relations with China can naturally complement the Republic of Moldova’s increasingly deep integration into the European Research Area. Authentic science develops through openness, cooperation, and the free circulation of ideas. The more actively we participate in international research networks, the greater our chances of contributing to the major discoveries of the future.

— Mr. Academician, looking to the future, what message would you like to convey to the scientific community and, especially, to young researchers in the Republic of Moldova?

— First of all, I would urge them to have confidence in their own potential and not to give up on bold aspirations. We live in an era of extraordinary transformations. Artificial intelligence, advanced materials, biotechnologies, and new energy technologies are profoundly changing the world we live in. Opportunities are opening up for young researchers that, just a few decades ago, seemed unimaginable. However, these opportunities can only be capitalized upon through sustained work, curiosity, perseverance, and the permanent desire to learn and explore the unknown.

I would also emphasize the necessity of strengthening academic solidarity and the spirit of collaboration. Modern research is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary, and the major challenges of the contemporary world can no longer be solved from the perspective of a single discipline. Major breakthroughs are increasingly realized at the intersection of different fields of knowledge, where ideas and competencies complement each other. Recent experience in China reconfirmed a fundamental truth for me: science progresses when individual talent meets a favorable environment, when bold ideas are supported through cooperation, and when society has confidence in the power of knowledge.

I am convinced that the Republic of Moldova possesses the necessary potential to assert its presence ever more strongly on the world’s scientific map. For this, we need vision, perseverance, sustained investments in education and research, and above all, trust in the people who generate knowledge and open new horizons.

And let us not forget that science has a mission that transcends the boundaries of laboratories and universities. It builds bridges of communication between people and countries, fosters mutual respect, and contributes to building a safer and more prosperous world. In a period marked by multiple tensions and uncertainties, international scientific cooperation becomes not only a necessity for progress, but also a valuable instrument for dialogue and peace.

The future is not just something we wait for. It is something we build through education, science, creativity, and cooperation. And this construction must become a shared responsibility assumed by society as a whole.

— Thank you, Academician Ion Tighineanu, for this captivating dialogue, for your reflections on the impressive transformations in China, and for the lessons of vision, courage, and optimism regarding the future of research and innovation. Congratulations on the occasion of the professional holiday of researchers – Science Day.

— Thank you!

Interlocutor:

Tatiana ROTARU