<< Background >>TrainChain(Blockchain Training for Start-Ups) is a response to the needs of early-stage companies to provide training and development opportunities to their, often young and inexperienced, staff. The number of Start-Ups in Europe is increasing (Start-up Hubs Europe: in 2018 investment was more than €10 billion, vs. €3 billion, 2014), and so is the young people working at them (over a quarter of employees in young firms are under 34). However, there's less job security and the year company survival rate in Europe was lower than 50% in 2018; there are rarely formal qualifications offered, and no plan or budget for professional development and training, which can prevent young people to move jobs and thus, widen the skills gap in the job market (Eurostat). In this context, numerous studies and international initiatives (e.g. Startup Hubs Europe, EC) have stated the need to promote entrepreneurial and business-related competencies in VET centres and companies to address these challenges. This need is also supported by the findings of an initial study carried out by the partner organisations involved in the project, through which members of the target group were consulted SMEs confront several problems in the business economy, many of them face barriers in entering trade markets, transactions, data storage, cash flow and security but also for efficiently protecting IP. When it comes to data storage, many companies use the Internet of Things but don't have enough information. Blockchain technology can offer a solution to these challenges for cheaper data storage and improvement of privacy and security and IP management.The international consortium of TrainChain aims to create a personalized environment that will deliver strategies and actions that need to be adopted by learners to learn how to effectively use this technology. The actions will be focused on two main fields that blockchain technology that could be used; IoT and finances.<< Objectives >>The need for innovative methods for including newly created techniques and training tools is affecting the whole European Union, making necessary a change in the transmission of the information and training of the SMEs in new and trendy topics. In line with the EC objectives and priorities to support digital development and inclusion in the companies and SMEs and integrating blockchain on their procedures (https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/blockchain-strategy), the TrainChain project aims to have an international impact. Building a pan-European public services blockchain, promoting blockchain for sustainability, cybersecurity, legal certainty, interoperability or data protection are some of the core contents of the project, coinciding with the European needs, highly necessary to all the countries equally.TrainChain aims to give a response to the necessities of the target groups in Europe as well as to impact positively in the SMEs and international reality.<< Implementation >>All major expected results are listed & detailed in the Results of the TrainChain project (please refer to the section of Implementation) and are part of: • TrainChain Programme• TrainChain Trainers' Guide• TrainChain Trainers Induction• TrainChain Blockchain Training Tool• A dedicated virtual space (TrainChain Academy) including all of the project's results, and an infrastructure to support synchronous (live help, chat, live video assistance, Skype, go to meeting/webinar) and asynchronous communication (email, online forms channelling tickets to the appropriate persons, forum, FAQ section, integrated Ffora engine), with all those wanting to use the project's outcomes. The infrastructure wills support the sustainability of the project by allowing TrainChain's learners to be informed about the project’s results after the end of its funded life. Additionally, the TrainChain project foresees a set of management, dissemination, monitoring & evaluation and coordination results, namely: 1. Project Management: - Project Roadmap, which will include the partnership agreement, detailed work plan (including information about project meetings, project activities and tasks), detailed description of the roles and responsibilities of each partner involved, and listing of project indicators and impacts to be achieved; - Project Management Handbook which will compile all necessary management and reporting tools to be used by the partners, including templates for quarterly reporting, contacts from the Staff team allocated to the project, guidelines for management, administrative work and financial control; - Interim and Final Reports: following the format requested by the Executive Agency, the Interim and Final Reports will be written by the coordinator with the support of all partners and will be submitted to the National Agency.2. Monitoring and Evaluation - Quality Management Plan, which will describe the quality-check procedures that will be implemented to ensure high quality of the project achievements (project results namely) and consistency of the work performed within the project. It will also include a description of the actions that will be taken to guarantee the efficiency and quality of the project outcomes and procedures; - Coordination and Partnership Quality Reports will be tools for assessing and monitoring the quality of the project activities and results according to defined methodology and strategy;3. Dissemination - Dissemination & Communication Strategic Plan: it will outline a set of dissemination activities including (i) Project dissemination strategy addressing the best way to promote the project; (ii) Project dissemination materials inspired in the technical proposal and on the intermediate project results; (iii) Definition of channels for communication and establishment of a differentiated mailing list of target groups of stakeholders and interested parties. All partners will be invited to either contribute to the list or to take care in forwarding project communication to their contacts. The partners will also perform “project networking” on a continuous basis<< Results >>The main objectives are the following: 1. Identify the training and development areas that will deliver the greatest impact 2. Design content for our target group and their organisations, focusing on the blockchain concept 3. Create the infrastructure that will enable and empower start-ups to provide training for their teams 4. Pioneer the in-house training model for start-ups 5. Build, test and release excellent resources that generate real value for the start-ups 6. Assist SMEs to improve their place in the business economy 7. Promote the use of new technologies in SMEs 8. Empower managers/entrepreneurs with the essential skills and knowledge regarding blockchain technology to help them run and manage their businesses successfully 9. Develop strategies and actions that present an innovative approach to blockchain technology education The results will be achieved through the consecution of the intellectual results of the project.