PHOTO // USMF "Nicolae Testemițanu" national leader by articles indexed in scientometric databases Web of Science and Scopus

Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy (USMF) is the national leader in terms of articles indexed in the scientometric databases Web of Science and Scopus. The institution also ranks third by the volume of research funds attracted from national and international projects, as well as from Horizon Europe program, according to a ranking published by the Ministry of Education and Research (MEC).

The scientific output indexed in the Scopus database totals 1,591 papers, including 957 cited articles and 28,983 citations. The number of publications increased from 196 in 2024 to 228 in 2025, while the Hirsch index in Scopus reached 66 (up from 57 in 2024), thus marking a positive dynamic in publishing in international journals and in strengthening the institution’s capacity for competitive research.

At the same time, the presence in the Web of Science database amounts to 1,755 indexed papers and 23,449 citations. The number of indexed works grew by 201 in 2025 (127 in 2024), and the Hirsch index rose to 58 (from 52 in 2024), reflecting an increasingly consistent integration into the global scientific circuit.

USMF Nicolae Testemițanu also ranks first among the four higher education and research institutions in the country listed in the SCImago Institutions Rankings, 2025 edition. This bibliometric growth is correlated with intense activity in the innovation. In 2025, the teaching and research staff obtained 170 intellectual property objects, including patents for invention, copyright certificates and innovator certificates implemented in teaching and scientific-practical processes.

The university’s researchers and inventors took part in 19 exhibitions of inventics and technology transfer, 16 of which were international, obtaining a total of 197 medals and distinctions, including 19 special awards. In this regard, the institution received the Grand Prize at the European Exhibition of Creativity and Innovation EUROINVENT (8–10 May 2025, Iași, Romania) for its outstanding presence with inventions.

USMF Nicolae Testemițanu was also awarded the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) National Award for Enterprise – 2025 at the INFOINVENT International Specialized Exhibition, as significant contribution to advancing medical research and harnessing technologies with direct applicability in clinical practice. The university received a similar award in 2005.

Jana Chihai, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation emphasized that all these results “highlight a growth trajectory both in indexed scientific output and citation impact, as well as in the practical harnessing of research.”

According to the Vice-Rector, the laboratories of the Health and Biomedicine Research Center within the National Institute for Research in Medicine and Health of the University have been developed thanks to the successful implementation of the FORCE_Med and Force_Farm subprojects. The subprojects are part of the Higher Education in Moldova project, implemented by the MEC with financial support from the World Bank.

First Vice-Rector Olga Cernețchi states that the university is prepared for the third round of the project, which entails the development of the research and internationalization component.

“The implementation of the education through research concept is a priority for us, aimed at increasing the quality of higher medical and pharmaceutical education, in accordance with the Strategic Development Plan of the University for 2021–2030, while innovation, technology transfer and internationalization are key objectives that we pursue by applying good international practices,” underlined Cernețchi.

USMF Nicolae Testemițanu reiterates that it will continue to invest in the professional development of human resources for research and innovation activities. Another priority is the modernization of research infrastructure, both from its own resources and through international projects.