The menu, music, and navigation in your car could well have been developed in a small office in Moldova. It is a quiet success story, but one that is making a big impact.
Moldovan entrepreneur Gheorghe Ghirjev welcomes us with a broad grin, offering coffee, tea, and even gin. It is early, but hospitality comes first. His approach to people and business helped him build the software company BSW Tech at an impressive speed.
In just three years, Ghirjev (pictured above) has grown his company so fast that its products are now installed in well-known car brands like BMW, Suzuki, and Alfa Romeo. His Chișinău office has become the birthplace of electronics used in millions of vehicles worldwide.
BSW Tech’s engineers improve infotainment safety, manage solar batteries, and automate farming and transport. They also develop Battery Management Systems for electric vehicles (EVs) and contributed to the BMW iX, a major European EV project. In Amsterdam, their PLC automation keeps trains running through snowstorms, ensuring transit safety across Europe. Their technology operates quietly, but it is spreading fast.
Yet, Ghirjev is not impressed. “We haven’t done enough,” he says.
Why Moldova?
Moldova is making surprising strides in the automotive sector. By 2024, it had expanded significantly, employing over 19,000 people and contributing 12.7 per cent to the national GDP.
Moldova is positioned near major European automotive hubs, including VW, Renault, Audi, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz. This provides a clear logistical advantage. Deliveries to Germany take just two days by road, and Moldova is part of the Pan-European Transport Corridor IX, connecting Finland to Greece via Romania.
The country’s automotive industry once focused on hardware, but now software is key. Real-time updates, smart energy, and security are what matter most. This shift has created opportunities for smaller companies with the right expertise. However, the competition is tough.
“This kind of know-how is quite rare in Europe and is usually reserved for large automotive companies that can afford significant investments in research and development,” says Sergiu Bolocan, director of DAC, a Romanian motor vehicle manufacturing company. “Joining the EU’s automotive industry requires a strong strategy and persistence.”
And if Moldovans are known for anything, it is their persistence.
A new way to train engineers
One of BSW Tech’s keys to success has been its close collaboration with Moldovan technical educators. Ghirjev involved students early, giving them hands-on experience.
It all started with a book. He wrote Embedded C: From Theory to Employment to simplify complex engineering knowledge into a three-month practical course. Today, it is part of the official curriculum in three Moldovan educational institutions.
“BSW Tech doesn’t just follow trends; it creates them,” says Daniel Benea, CEO of EBS Electric Group, a Romanian-Austrian company specialising in electronic design and assembly.
But there are challenges. “Many technical standards are not yet fully applied or understood in Moldova, and engineers there may not be entirely aware of market demands during the design phase. However, from a technical standpoint, their professional training is strong,” adds Benea.
Proving Moldova’s talent
Elena Maevski, executive director at the Association of Electronics Companies in Moldova, has spent years trying to show the world that Moldova has great engineers. She knows how hard it is for companies from a small country to stand out.
One way to do it, she says, is to prove their competence through real projects.
“As long as you are willing to show what you can do, you have a chance!” she adds.
“There is a growing demand for efficient embedded solutions, and Moldova has specialists who can meet this challenge,” says Maevski.
Moldova’s business advantage
Moldova has another strength: its tax policy. With a low seven per cent corporate tax rate, affordable costs, and a multilingual workforce, it is an attractive place for business.
The Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP) makes things even easier by simplifying regulations, offering IT visas, and connecting companies to European markets. This makes Moldova a top choice for tech investment.
Moldova’s Free Economic Zones (FEZ) also provide businesses with better logistics and financial benefits. That is why most automotive component companies are based there, producing cables, wiring harnesses, plastic parts, and electronic components.
International manufacturers from the USA, Germany, and Japan operate in Moldova’s Free Economic Zones, benefiting from tax incentives and government-backed trade policies.
“So next time you drive a BMW or adjust your smart home settings, remember: the future of European technology might just be quietly built in a small office in Chișinău,” Ghirjev says with a smile.
All photos by Iurie Gandrabura.
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