Deadline: 24-Oct-2025
The Moldova Sandbox Innovation Challenge, launched in September 2025 by UNDP Moldova with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, invites innovators based in or intending to operate in Moldova to develop and scale innovative energy efficiency and renewable-related projects within the Moldova Energy Sandbox environment, aiming to foster sustainable energy solutions through targeted thematic focus areas.
The challenge focuses on Collective Self-Consumption and Energy Communities – solutions to promote shared production and local use of electric energy, regulatory frameworks, grid integration, and others; Electromobility infrastructure development for electric vehicles, smart charging solutions, and vehicle-to-grid integration to optimize energy consumption and support the transition to clean transportation; Flexibility and balancing services innovations that improve grid stability through demand response mechanisms, battery storage solutions, real-time energy trading, and others; Integration of renewable energy sources, biogas biomethane production converting agricultural waste into biogas, expansion of renewable energy capacities in solar, wind, and others; and Smart Grids – infrastructure development, modernization, integration of renewables, balancing solutions, and others.
The Moldova Sandbox Innovation Challenge aims to identify, deploy, and scale innovative projects with strong potential for implementation within the Moldova Energy Sandbox, supporting startups, private or state-owned enterprises, non-profits, and academic institutions. The program is structured to provide up to four prizes of up to US $40,000 each, totaling a maximum of US $160,000, to support the development, piloting, deployment, and scaling of energy-related innovations. The awards are intended to cover costs including project staff salaries, consultancy services, equipment, training, workshops, and travel expenses connected to the project. Importantly, the challenge does not take equity in supported organizations.
Applicants must demonstrate a viable innovation addressing the defined development challenges with potential for financial sustainability and scalability while engaging users and partners to ensure contextual viability. Eligible participants include registered startups, enterprises, non-profits, academic institutions, individuals, and associations with prototypes, minimum viable products, or further developed solutions. Applicants must be based in Moldova or intend to deploy solutions there, with foreign entities required to establish a local branch during the project.
The evaluation process comprises eligibility screening, detailed assessment against five weighted criteria: innovation scale, exemption justification, impact potential, feasibility and scalability, and management capacity. Selection is finalized upon approval by the Moldovan Commission for innovative testing spaces and Government, ensuring projects align with regulatory and development objectives.
Following award, recipients enter into agreements defining deliverables and timelines with UNDP, with projects subject to rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and reporting over an 18-month contract period. The monitoring process ensures alignment with project plans and budgets, with quarterly progress updates required, fostering learning and knowledge dissemination around Moldova’s energy development challenges.
For more information, visit UNDP.
