Impactul expunerii publicului general la câmpurile electromagnetice (EMF) generate de 5G, pentru a sprijini implementarea noii generații de comunicații mobile și digitalizarea societății în R. Moldova

Project title: The impact of general public exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by 5G, to support the implementation of the new generation of mobile communications and the digitalization of society in the Republic of Moldova
 Acronym: EMF5G
Project code: PN-IV-PCB-RO-MD-2024-0294
Contract number: 48PCBROMD/2025
Funding: State Budget
Program title: Program 5.8 – European and International cooperation, Bilateral/Multilateral Subprogram
Area: 1 Digitalization, industry and space
Project type: Complex bilateral projects with the Republic of Moldova
Total contract value: 600,000 lei, of which, by funding sources:
Source 1 – from the state budget: 600,000 lei
Source 2 – from other attracted sources (co-financing): 0 lei
Contract duration: 01.09.2025 – 31.08.2027 (24 months)

Contracting Authority: Executive Unit for Financing Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI)
Contractor (CO): National Institute for Research and Development for Electrical Engineering ICPE-CA (INCDIE ICPE-CA) Bucharest, Romania
Partner 1 (P1): Technical University of Moldova (UTM) – Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications (FET), Republic of Moldova

Summary of the project:
The project brings an innovative and relevant contribution in terms of EMF exposure assessment methods by aligning with international trends and responding to the current challenges of implementing 5G technology, through the following elements:

        1. Technical novelty of EMF assessment methodologies: In general, standardized EMF measurements are performed at certain fixed locations and at a certain point in time, either with broadband or frequency selective equipment. The project introduces complex measurements and numerical simulations to generate coverage maps and assess EMF exposure from 5G networks, compared to previous technologies (3G, 4G, WiFi).
The innovative methodology in the project will improve the methods of assessing exposure to electromagnetic fields by using radio propagation maps (numerically simulated), developing complex prediction algorithms tailored to the specifics of Moldovan sites, performing an EMF extrapolation based on a frequency selective measurement to make a prediction of the maximum possible 5G electromagnetic field.

        2. Integration of local data and specificity of the tested sites: The project provides for field EMF measurements in various areas of the Republic of Moldova (i.e. urban and rural) by contributing to adapting the assessment methods to the local context. This approach represents an improvement over generic assessments by bringing a high degree of precision and specificity, a requirement recognized in the literature on EMF exposure assessment technologies. The project will provide evidence on the impact of EMF limits (encouraging or restrictive) on 5G deployment planning and on the perceived QoS of users in the Republic of Moldova.

        3. Public health impact study:While many previous studies have focused on the technical assessment of EMF exposure, this project aims to correlate exposure levels with potential public health effects, in accordance with European regulations. This combination of technical measurements and health impact studies brings a holistic perspective on 5G deployment.The project that is based on the results obtained and European good practices, will support the implementation of 5G technology and the digitalization of society in the Republic of Moldova.

        4. International collaboration and transfer of good practices:The project involves research internships and exchanges of experience between Romania and the Republic of Moldova by facilitating access to advanced research infrastructure. This type of collaboration is about integrating researchers into international networks and at the same time meeting the requirements in the literature to strengthen the local capacity to assess RF-EMF exposure by using advanced measurement technologies available internationally.

THE PROJECT AIM is to carry out joint research between the Coordinator Romania and the Partner Republic of Moldova. The project is about assessing the impact of public exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by 5G networks compared to those generated by existing mobile technologies (3G, 4G, WiFi). This project will support the implementation of the new 5G communications technology in the Republic of Moldova, strengthen bilateral scientific collaboration, contribute to increasing the number of joint applications in European programs and integrate Moldovan researchers into international research networks.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

O1. Intensification of bilateral collaboration: Creation of an interdisciplinary research team consisting of experts from the Coordinator Romania and the Partner Republic of Moldova, to collaborate in assessing the impact of EMF generated by 5G, to share good practices and specific knowledge and to make complementary use of the available research infrastructure. Based on the results obtained and European good practices, the project will support the implementation of 5G technology and the digitalization of society in the Republic of Moldova.
O2. Integration of Moldovan researchers in international networks: Facilitating the participation of Moldovan researchers in European and international research networks by organizing exchanges of good practices in on-site EMF assessment, strengthening the experience and competence of the Moldovan researchers involved, research internships and joint participation in international scientific events.
O3. EMF exposure analysis: Analyzing the intensity of electromagnetic fields emitted by 5G networks, in the indoor and outdoor environment of sites in the Republic of Moldova and comparing these data with the exposure levels generated by 3G, 4G and WiFi technologies.
O4. Health impact assessment: Investigating the potential effects of exposure to high-frequency EMF on human health, taking into account European research and regulations in the field.
O5. Recommendations for public measures: Formulating recommendations for the authorities of the Republic of Moldova on the regulation of EMF exposure in conjunction with supporting the implementation of 5G technology and the digitalization of society, based on the results of this study and European good practices.

 
Research team:
INCDIE ICPE-CA Bucharest, Romania:
PhD. Eng. POPESCU Mircea – Project Director
PhD. Eng. BĂDIC Mihai – Senior Researcher 1st degree
PhD. Eng. PĂTROI Eros-Alexandru – Senior Researcher 1st degree
PhD. Eng. BĂBUȚANU Corina – Researcher 2 degree
PhD. Eng. MORARI Cristian – Researcher 3 degree
PhD. Eng. POPA Marius – Researcher 3 degree
PhD. Eng. ENACHE Dan – Researcher 3 degree

UTM-FET, Republic of Moldova:
PhD, Associate Professor PRISĂCARU Andrian – Project Co-director
PhD, Associate Professor SAVA Lilia – Principal Researcher
PhD. PhD, Associate Professor TÎRȘU Valentina – Principal Researcher
PhD. ŢURCANU Dinu – Principal Researcher
Eng. MIROVSKI Vladimir – PhD Student

 
Project stages:
Stage 1/2025: Technical and scientific substantiation of the project and establishment of the research methodology
Activities in Stage 1/2025:
• Technical and scientific substantiation of the project and establishment of the research methodology;
• Conducting the first research internship at ICPE-CA for researchers from the Republic of Moldova
Partners involved in Stage 1/2025: CO, P1
Period of Stage 1: 01.09.2025 – 31.12.2025
Estimated results in Stage 1/2025:

D.1. Technical-scientific report on the methodology, testing plan and research internship
D.2 Research internship report for Moldovan researchers
D.3 Project website

 
Stage 2/2025: Experimental EMF research and study of exposure to electromagnetic fields generated by 5G technology of the public in the Republic of Moldova
Activities in Stage 2/2026:
• Experimental research, initial EMF measurements and data collection in the Republic of Moldova and Romania
• Conducting the second research internship at ICPE-CA for researchers from the Republic of Moldova
• In-depth study of the obtained EMF research data and assessment of the impact of electromagnetic fields generated by 5G technology on the health of the general public in the Republic of Moldova
• Conducting the 3rd research internship at ICPE-CA for researchers from the Republic of Moldova
Partners involved in Stage 2/2026: CO, P1
Period of Stage 2: 01.09.2026 – 31.12.2026
Estimated results in Stage 2/2026:
D.4 Technical-scientific report on preliminary EMF analysis
D.5. Research internship report no. 2 for researchers from the Republic of Moldova
D.6 Technical-scientific report on the 5G-related EMF characterization method, the impact generated by 5G technology on the general public in the Republic of Moldova
D.7. Research internship report no. 2 for researchers from the Republic of Moldova

 
Stage 3/2027: Study on recommendations for public regulations regarding protection from exposure to electromagnetic radiation, in conjunction with supporting the implementation of 5G and the digitalization of society in the Republic of Moldova
Activities in Stage 3/2027:
• Study on recommendations for public regulations regarding protection from exposure to electromagnetic radiation, in conjunction with supporting the implementation of 5G and the digitalization of society in the Republic of Moldova
• Processing of research results and wide dissemination, through national/international communication and publication of results, as well as expanding international collaboration
• Conducting the 4th research internship at ICPE-CA for researchers from the Republic of Moldova
Partners involved in Stage 3/2027: CO, P1
Period of Stage 3: 01.01.2027 – 31.08.2027
Estimated results in Stage 3/2027:
D.8 Technical-scientific report with recommendations for public regulations on EMF exposure and policies for the implementation of 5G technology in the Republic of Moldova
D.9 Min. 1 participation in a national/international technical-scientific event
D.10 Min. 1 BDI/ISI article
D.11 Project WEB page completed
D.12 Research internship report for Moldovan researchers
D.13 Final workshop on the project topic
D.14 Final project report