The AI wave has fully swept through Moldova's tech industry, and the numbers confirm it. A large-scale survey conducted among resident companies of the Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP) shows that 78% of companies use AI solutions, either partially or extensively, while for 31% of respondents, AI now represents their company's primary technology vertical. What looked like a technological experiment just a few years ago has today become the backbone of daily activity across the tech industry.
AI: the leading technology vertical for 3 in 10 companies
One of the survey's most telling findings points to a clear shift in the sector's direction. 31% of companies interviewed said AI is now their main technology vertical, overtaking FinTech, cited by 29% of respondents. Nearly half of companies operate in verticals such as transport/logistics (11%), e-commerce (4%), and media/entertainment (3%).
Nearly 4 in 5 companies already use AI
The data shows significant adoption of artificial intelligence in the day-to-day operations of MITP resident companies: 37% of respondents use AI extensively, and 41% use it in certain activities — together, 78% of companies have integrated AI solutions, at least partially. Only 11% of companies don't use AI tools at all. The study also shows that AI adoption rises slightly with a company's years on the market.
Among companies using or testing AI, 52% said it is a central or secondary component of the products they offer clients, while 43% use it exclusively in internal processes. The most common AI applications are software development / code generation / quality testing (79%) and content generation — text, image, video, or audio (63%). Among companies using AI, the most frequent areas of application are internal operations / productivity (80%), software development and testing (77%), and data analysis / reporting / decision support (65%).
"AI is no longer a trend — it has become the core infrastructure of the tech industry. These figures confirm what we already see on the ground every day within our resident community: AI is no longer a niche or future topic, but a working tool used daily by most IT companies in Moldova. The fact that nearly a third of our companies now define their business around AI as their main vertical shows the maturity and speed at which the sector is transforming. MITP's role is to support exactly this transition, giving residents access to resources, knowledge, and a community that evolves at the same pace as the technology," said Marina Bzovîi, MITP Administrator.
"We're in the final stretch of preparing the National Program on Artificial Intelligence and Data Governance for 2026-2030. We will have a National AI Hub, a controlled testing regime (sandbox) for emerging technologies, and AI vouchers for SMEs. We want to accelerate adoption and product creation as quickly as possible, positioning Moldova as a sandbox for emerging technologies in Europe. What we see in these figures is the maturing of an entire sector. When 78% of MITP resident companies already use AI, the state's role isn't to dictate, but to remove obstacles standing in the way of innovation," said Michelle Iliev, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization.
Custom software development: the industry's engine
The top three activities among companies surveyed are custom software development (50%), IT consulting (14%), and export contact centers (11%). Most respondents said they offer services either exclusively (57%) or combined with product development (35%). Companies doing both reported that the two components make up roughly half of their activity each — a balance also reflected at the aggregate level, where 52% of activity represents service delivery and 48% product development.
The top products and services offered include web development (62%), data analysis (50%), quality assurance / testing (48%), DevOps / cloud computing (44%), and, notably, artificial intelligence / machine learning (39%). In terms of industry sectors, companies most frequently reported operating in commerce/e-commerce (32%), transport/logistics (31%), finance/banking (24%), and media/entertainment (22%).
External markets and appetite for expansion
The study confirms the sector's strong export orientation: 97% of companies have B2B (Business to Business) clients, and 84% are oriented toward external markets. The top four export markets are the US (45%), Romania (22%), the UK (15%), and Germany (13%).
Interest in development varies by direction: 82% of companies are interested in expanding into external markets, 63% in diversifying products, 53% in partnerships within Moldova, and 48% in attracting investment.
"A deep understanding of the business environment we operate in gives us a clear picture of our current position and forms the foundation on which we build our development plans. At the same time, this understanding helps us identify new opportunities and develop products and services that meet the real needs of the global market," concluded Dumitru Slonovschi, founder and director of Magenta Consulting.
The study was conducted by Magenta Consulting, commissioned by Moldova Innovation Technology Park, with the aim of collecting and structuring up-to-date data on the profile and activity of MITP resident companies. Of the 2,798 residents contacted, 1,560 took part in the survey, with a margin of error of ±3%. Respondents were directors, founders, and other individuals with decision-making roles within their companies. Data was collected between April 9 and May 12, 2026.
The full study can be accessed here - https://mitp.md/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/MITP-Census-Report-18.05.26_final.pdf