The GS-Foundation has officially handed over the new Drone Training Laboratory at the Ștefan cel Mare Police Academy in Chișinău to Moldova’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). The laboratory will be used by the Police Academy and other subdivisions of the Ministry to strengthen practical training capacities for the civilian use of drones.
During the official opening, Michael Schemke, CEO of the GS-Foundation, delivered opening remarks and highlighted the importance of professional training and strong institutional cooperation for the safe and coordinated use of drones by state authorities.
A Dedicated Environment for Practical Drone Training
Equipped with modern workstations and flight-simulation software, the new laboratory provides a dedicated environment for practical drone training. It enables participants to develop and consolidate relevant skills in a controlled setting and to prepare for the requirements of real-world operations.
By providing dedicated infrastructure for both theoretical and practical training, the laboratory creates new opportunities for the professional qualification of drone pilots within the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its subdivisions.
Supporting the Development of a Drone Competence Centre
The opening of the laboratory represents an important step within Moldova’s national civilian Drone Competence Initiative, led by the Operational Management Inspectorate (OMI) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Together with the preceding scenario-based WASP Workshop and further training activities, the laboratory lays important groundwork for the Ministry’s future Drone Competence Centre. The objective is to strengthen institutional capacities and support the development of sustainable structures for the safe and coordinated civilian use of drones by state authorities.
Investing in People and Sustainable Capacities
In his opening remarks, Michael Schemke emphasised that the long-term value of the laboratory will ultimately be determined by how it is used. “Today, we hand over a laboratory. Our hope is simple: that it will rarely stand empty. Its true value will be measured not by the equipment in this room, but by the people trained here, the missions made safer and the lives better protected.”
The new facility therefore represents more than an investment in technical infrastructure. Combined with professional training and institutional cooperation, it contributes to developing sustainable capacities and strengthening the responsible use of drones in Moldova.
Cooperation between Moldova and Germany
The project is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by the GS-Foundation on its behalf. Its activities are carried out in close cooperation with the Moldovan Ministry of Internal Affairs and its Operational Management Inspectorate.
The GS-Foundation thanks all Moldovan and German partners involved for their close cooperation and continued commitment to the project.
