Digitalisation of industry creates new opportunities for SMEs (SMF) in several different areas. Projects focus on opportunities for more efficient maintenance in existing production, new services for maintenance and maintenance planning, added value for products and to create an attractive workplace for a broader staff group. The overall objective is that SMEs in the region should increase their competitiveness and employment in particular. The project goal is to create more efficient maintenance with digitalisation and to enhance existing and potential staff. Sub-target 1: More efficient planning and preparation of maintenance. Sub-target 2: Reinforced connection between education, working life and work-based learning. Sub-target 3: Increased awareness of skills supply. The project starts with an inventory in order to identify where the company is in the digitisation process today and where you want to be in the future. (i) An activity based on participant-driven skills development, (ii) to develop digital twins that can be used for predictive maintenance using machine learning. (iii) Predictive maintenance, where the remaining service life and thus maintenance needs are estimated. (iv) The last work package consists of communicating results to an operator and/or maintenance planner. Within the project, a number of case studies will be conducted at the participating SMEs. Expected results at project conclusions Increased competence to meet the labour market’s needs for labour and competence through skills development and a work environment that is inclusive and attractive to a broad staff group. The benefits of SMEs Guidance on where the company is in the digitisation process today and where they want to be in the future. A network of companies in digitised maintenance. Established new contacts between the University of Gävle (HIG) and SMEs, thereby supporting technical research, making available, enabling and disseminating (new) technology. The companies that have participated actively in one or more activities: Developed a prototype to deliver a digital twin (intentioned for predictive maintenance) to a physical product that the company manufactures, which can result in increased added value for the product. Developed more efficient predictive maintenance in its production. Developed new services for maintenance or maintenance planning. The project’s impact on sustainability aspects Positive effect on the attractiveness of the workplace for women and young people with a foreign background through digitisation. Circular economy is the starting point for all materials to be included in a circular cycle, illustrated with circles. A fundamental principle for maintaining value in the materials and creating economic opportunities in the circular economy is that the closer one can get to the innermost circles of direct reusing, the greater the savings as the need for fresh extraction of raw materials then decreases and less energy is required for the transport and processing of materials. In the two innermost circles (reuse, share and maintenance) is the value-creating principle that the longer products and components can be circulated “as they are”, the lower the costs of materials, work and energy. This project addresses maintenance and is integrated into all activities. Expected long-term effects Positive effects on human capital, innovation ability, economic profitability, circular economy as regional attractiveness.