Palestine’s urban landscape is ready for a digital revolution, and the Urban Up program is seeking developers, urban planners, and startups to lead the way. This 12-month innovation journey, developed in partnership with GIZ’s INDIGO project, aims to transform pressing municipal challenges into smart city solutions in collaboration with the municipalities of Nablus, Dura, Al-Ezaria, and Birzeit.
At a Glance
- Opportunity Type: Municipal Innovation Incubator and Hackathon
- For: Developers, urban planners, designers, and startups in Palestine
- Key Benefits: Technical engagement, professional mentorship, incubation for 15 teams, and seed funding for the top 5 teams
- Application Deadline: March 10, 2026
- Location: Palestine (Palestine Techno Park)
Innovation Incubator Overview
Urban Up is an intensive 12-month program designed to bridge the gap between technical innovators and municipal governance. The journey begins with a one-day Ideation Hackathon at the Palestine Techno Park where teams prototype solutions for real-world urban challenges. Participants will engage directly with local municipalities, who act as mentors, testers, and potential first customers. Following the hackathon, the program moves into a technical engagement phase, professional incubation, and final deployment of validated smart city solutions.
Key Benefits
- Seed Funding: The top 5 teams will receive seed funding to implement their projects.
- Professional Incubation: The best 15 teams will be selected for formal professional incubation.
- Expert Mentorship: Direct access to municipal leaders and technical experts to refine solutions.
- Full-Cycle Support: Comprehensive guidance across technical development, UX/UI design, business modeling, and municipal workflow integration.
- Market Entry: A unique opportunity to build a validated case study with Palestinian municipalities as initial partners.
Eligibility Criteria
- Team Composition: At least one team member must have a technical background, such as software engineering, data, or related fields.
- Collaboration: Teams must demonstrate the ability to work effectively with municipal data and constraints.
- Commitment: Participants must be available for the one-day Ideation Hackathon and the subsequent 12-month innovation milestones.
- Technical Readiness: Teams should be prepared to iterate on their solutions based on feedback from municipal mentors.
Challenge Themes
Applicants must choose one of the following challenge axes to address:
- Theme 1: Water & Energy: Addressing water scarcity, digital identity, and workflow automation.
- Theme 2: Digital Services: Focusing on proactive communication, accessibility, and public asset management.
- Theme 3: Sustainability & Public Safety: Managing waste, health, and environmental security.
- Theme 4: Mobility & Infrastructure: Solving traffic crises through smart parking and intelligent street lighting.
How to Apply
To secure your spot in the Ideation Hackathon and begin the journey toward building a funded startup, apply through the official registration form before the deadline.
- Application Deadline: March 10, 2026
- Application Link: Apply for Urban Up
About Palestine Techno Park
Palestine Techno Park is a leading innovation hub dedicated to fostering a knowledge-based economy. It provides a collaborative environment for entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts to turn innovative ideas into commercial realities, supporting the growth of the Palestinian technology sector through programs like Urban Up.
Learn More: Palestine Techno Park
