March 10 – Bulgaria’s Maritsa 1921 Plovdiv is applying for a €450,000 Erasmus+ grant. The project, called Maritsa Tech Academy (MTA), aims to demonstrate the impact of technology on football, including AI-based analytics, digital refereeing, wearable GPS technologies, and sustainable sports solutions to improve performance, safety, and athlete development.
The club is the sole applicant and coordinator, though the project includes nine associated partners from nine different countries, who will contribute their expertise in sports technology, sustainable development and youth football.
The project envisages a large-scale pan-European event with 8 key components, including:
– Youth football tournament with AI-based analytics
– Seminars on technology in sports
– Career promotion initiative in PFC Maritsa
– International women’s match
– Charity match
– Mini-football tournament with the participation of clubs from the partner countries
– International exchange program for young players
– Creation of a digital platform for innovation in football
The events will be held in Plovdiv within 18 months, contributing to the city’s planned development as a centre for sports innovation and attracting international guests, investors, and football specialists.
Associated partners include football clubs, national associations and football federations from Portugal, Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Malta, Serbia, Turkey and Romania. Their contribution will be key to achieving the main goal of the project – modernizing football in the era of digital technologies through AI-based analytics, innovative training methods, digital refereeing and sustainable sports solutions.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1741599460labto1741599460ofdlr1741599460owedi1741599460sni@o1741599460fni1741599460