Goal That Region Gävleborg’s SME companies gain increased growth through greater knowledge and insight, new networks and opportunities to reach the public market and to improve the region’s procurement strategy and procurement policy. Build and develop local and regional value chains that include knowledge of the real needs of SME companies in the region and make the public procurement process understandable, and utility for companies, and to develop the regional development strategy and the region’s procurement policy and procurement process. Milestone 1-5 – New networks have been established, where the actors are companies, the public sector, academia and non-profit organisations, both regionally, nationally and internationally. — To have identified gaps and obstacles and responsibilities within and between the different systems and structures of the different actors. “Through pilot activities in the region, gather knowledge of the whole and produce good examples for the benefit of the region’s SME companies. — To increase SME’s knowledge and other actors‘knowledge of public procurement and to make visible, discover the public market’s opportunities for growth and to contribute to SMEs’ innovation and product, service development. — More SME companies want to participate and are equipped to participate in the public procurement process Working method The task of implementing the project requires active participation of the project group, which has its field of work close to the activities and actors. The project’s structure is based on running, maintaining and describing the processes in the project. The processes in a holistic perspective can be described as scientific loops (Grounded Theory), where reality controls the processes. It is intensive and time consuming during certain periods and is based on the fact that the work takes place on the basis of the actors’ everyday lives. Activities: Meetings, visits and dialogue with SME companies and other actors workshops, seminars, conferences regionally, nationally and internationally. Implementation of the research-driven preparatory process in some of the region’s municipalities. Pilot operations in the selected pilot municipalities in Region Gävleborg. Knowledge-enhancing efforts against SME companies and other actors The participation of the regional industry: The project’s focus is on SME companies in Region Gävleborg. During the project Innovation Procurement X there was a subfocus on SME companies’ experience of the public procurement process. Thus, there is an established contact and a network that will be expanded, developed and strengthened in this project. The business managers in the region are comitted and will, through their networks, collaborate in the project. The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and Entrepreneurship in Region Gävleborg have expressed the need for the project’s focus on SME companies and new opportunities for growth. Expected results and benefits – More SME companies gain knowledge, willingness and ability to participate in procurement processes. ¿The growth potential available in the public market is clarified for both clients, purchasers and suppliers to create. ¿More companies in the region have started an innovation process in their companies. Increased collaboration and cooperation between companies, the region, municipalities, academia and non-profit organisations. ¿Innovative solutions, products and services have been developed in the region. Increased growth, more companies have been established/growth this has led to rural development. Increased quality of the company’s services for end users but also for clients. ¿More companies in the region get in touch with national and international markets. ¿More SME business solutions have been added as a result of the project where access to the public market is a key factor. There is an established platform in Gävleborg for innovation and development – Knowledge and insight into how companies can participate in public procurement processes has been established – New regional development strategies and procurement policies have been developed based on a real need that generates increased benefits.