The DLTech UP project is funded by the Interreg V-A “Greece-Bulgaria 2014-2020” Cooperation Programme”, which focuses on the development in the cross-border area. The target area of the project includes 7 prefectures on the Greek side (Evros, Kavala, Xanthi, Rodopi, Drama, Thessaloniki and Serres) and 4 districts on the Bulgarian side (Blagoevgrad, Smolyan, Kardzhali, Haskovo), which cover 40.202 sq km with 2,8 million inhabitants.

For various reasons, starting and making a business in the above-mentioned area is not so easy. Those who want to start their own business usually face various obstacles, among which are such difficulties as limited access to business know-how, limited access to general information and contacts, lack of support services for developing competitive product services, lack of access/ now-how regarding cost saving technologies, inadequate human development and skills, difficulties in obtaining business finance, etc., and this situation has a negative impact on the sustainable development of the whole region.

The project DLTech UP aims to contribute to addressing the problem, through the creation of a well-structured, well laid out, scalable and replicable accelerator program for those who have good business ideas and want to implement them. The consortium will conduct an open challenge to identify and select up to 10 projects pursuing DLT applications for social or public good to be supported by the accelerator. Selected projects will be awarded with initial funding and connected with other organizations. At the end of the accelerator, all projects will submit their proof-of-concept applications and/or use cases for final evaluation. A set of best projects will be announced at a final event and rewarded with additional funding.