1. Prepared by National Instruments Armenia Moldova IT Center of Excellence (ITCE) The state of a country’s economy is a reflection of the state of the country’s leading technical university.

2. ITCE The Challenges IT industry is constrained by shortage of skills Low investments in education The Mission To position Moldova as one of the top IT destinations in the world. The Way To establish world-class education laboratories To establish world-class research laboratories To modernize the curriculum

3. Functions of ITCE To prepare world-class IT talent that can solve modern-day challenges To become the engine for a mushrooming number of local IT start-ups To attract leading international companies seeking IT talent to setup operations in Moldova The Opportunity for Moldova Realizing the vast IT challenges that the world faces Realizing the deficit of IT talent in the world Acknowledging the long and proven traditions of Moldova in technology and sciences Moldova has a unique opportunity to become a leading exporter of IT technologies, products and services. ITCE 3

4. Economic and Demographic Effect The high-tech sector can become one of the stronger sectors of the Moldovan economy It can create a substantial number of high-quality and well paid jobs It can stop the emigration of talented youth ITCE 4

5. Model ITCE 5 Skills Development R&D Business Acceleration Clients Students, lecturers Companies, employees Looking for job Multinationals Multimedia, 3D Labs, Mobile Solutions, Web development, Entrepreneurship Multiple Roles Skills training Certification Incubation, Acceleration Consultancy, market research Events, workshops start-ups established

6. The Location The IT Centre of Excellence is planned to be located in the Innovation Centre of Technical University total area is 3400 sq.m. ITCE 6

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8. Governance Separate legal entity (Foundation) Joint governance board Business + University + Government Meet quarterly Approve budget and plans Advisory board Director (appointed competitively) Management team Bank account ITCE 8

9. Longer term Further expansion R&D Cooperation with international universities Deepening and expansion of the partnerships Grants for teams, start-ups, Venture Capital PPPs with multinationals (like Microsoft Innovation Center, IBM R&D Center, Cisco Cloud Computing Center) ITCE 9

10. 10 ITCE Start-Up Expenditure 3 years Cost (USD) Lab Equipment, Software solutions 1,300,000 Lab renovation (800sqm.) 250,000 Furniture50,000 Management, Trainers 700,000 Space, Utilities330,000 Total2,630,000 USAID – up to 1 mln USD cash Renovation, equipment, management costs, trainers, utilities Microsoft, IBM and other MNCs – over 1 mln USD equivalent Equipment, software, trainers/mentors, education material UTM Land, building, renovation, utilities, trainers Government Project-based financing for the Center (including education, startup and R&D support) ATIC and other local companies Trainers/mentors, internships, real projects, internet

11. 11 ITCE Revenue sources -Trainings -Certification -Startups (coaching, mentoring, success fee from revenues) -Co-working spaces and incubation -Events -Catering -Grants -Partnership with multinationals -Services for private IT companies, like recruitment, internships -Market research and consultancy

12. Impact Per year 1000 trained people 500 event participants 50 start-ups influenced 20 start-ups accelerated ITCE 12

13. Next Steps Confirm participation of other donors and vendors MOU(s) Appoint steering committee and project team Decide name i-Hub, e-Hub, IT-Hub IT Center of Excellence Detailed business plan Interior design, renovation, etc. DOORS OPEN – launch event – May 2015 ITCE 13