• 28-04-2026 17:50
• Velizar Petrov

The MYSTICAL DANUBE – Green and Mystical Danube Storytelling Route project took part in the Startup Fair – Plovdiv 2026, held on 28 April 2026 at the University of Food Technologies. The event, organised jointly by Plovdiv’s leading universities, brought together start‑ups, investors, academic institutions and young entrepreneurs in the region’s largest forum dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurial development.

MYSTICAL DANUBE was presented through an information stand located in the expo area of the fair, where visitors had the opportunity to explore:

·        the objectives, scope and achievements of the project;

·        the transnational Green & Mystical Danube Storytelling Route;

·        opportunities for engagement of local communities, businesses and young innovators;

·        the digital tools and resources developed within the project;

·        the pilot activities implemented in Plovdiv Region.

Throughout the day, the project team distributed promotional and informational materials, including brochures, visual content and QR codes directing visitors to the project’s online platform. The stand attracted considerable interest from students, start‑ups and representatives of the corporate and academic sectors, who recognised the project’s innovative approach to combining cultural heritage, digital technologies and sustainable regional development.

Participation in Startup Fair – Plovdiv 2026 significantly enhanced the visibility of MYSTICAL DANUBE among young professionals and entrepreneurial networks, while also strengthening partnerships within the broader innovation ecosystem of the Danube Region.

The MYSTICAL DANUBE project: "GREEN AND MYSTIC DANUBE ROUTE FOR STORIES TELL - TRANSNATIONAL VALORIZATION OF NATURAL AND INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS IN THE DANUBE REGION" is funded by the INTERREG Danube Transnational programme. The Bulgarian partner in the project is the Regional Development Agency with a Business Center for Supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, and the associated partner is the Plovdiv Regional Administration.