A large number of companies in the region are facing a change of ownership. Statistics produced show that out of 18,000 jobs in the business sector in the Falun Borlänge region, 4,000 people are employed in companies that have an owner aged 60 or older. There are many regions that are in the same situation. At business level, about 40 % of the companies will be in need of a change of ownership or closure within the next five to ten years. The restructuring that has begun will give an impact in the Swedish business community. Companies are merged, bought up and closed down. Safeguarding and developing local ownership is an important factor for long-term sustainable business. In order to maintain decision-making in the region, new entrepreneurs, present in the region, are ready to take over the companies facing a change of ownership. At ownership shifts, one can work to eliminate barriers to business renewal such as male valuation systems and exclusion. It is not uncommon for older owners to have an archaic production apparatus that is neither environmentally friendly nor efficient. Here we have an opportunity to influence a new generation of owners who want to develop the business. Ownership shifts are an ongoing process in the business sector. As an entrepreneur, you can be an experienced entrepreneur who has run a business for a very long time. But you're rarely faced with the fact that you have to leave the company. It is important to stimulate so that the process is started as otherwise there is a risk that the values will be lost. Ownership change processes take a long time, often several years. The companies are often entrepreneurial and have been founded on the basis of an idea and vision that the founder over the years has refined and built up a business around. These entrepreneurial companies form the basis for business in Dalarna and are often important suppliers to our multinational export companies. Large values are built up in the companies. Replacing this competence and these values with start-ups is not possible, at least not in the shorter perspective, as start-ups often have a long start. The ownership shift centre is a process manager and specialist in emotional values in ownership shifts. This service complements the system available for rational values, where the bank, business intermediaries, auditors and lawyers have an obvious place. The boundaries between the different actors are transcending and the different roles are dependent on each other. Problem area Small and medium-sized companies have difficulty starting up and completing ownership shifts. Causes – Entrepreneurship lacks knowledge of ownership shifts – Knowledge and the possibility of counseling within emotional values are inadequate. — Entrepreneurs are not ready to leave their businesses – companies are not attractive enough for a buyer – Long processes Follow – Companies stay in growth – Companies’ competitiveness and profitability weaken – Companies are shut down and replacing these skills and values with start-ups is not possible in the shorter perspective. Which means the region is losing growth. Overall goal Growth and renewal in entrepreneurial companies that are facing or implementing a change of ownership Project objective The project’s goal is to support ownership shift processes and develop ways of regeneration in owner-led companies. Subtargets Subgoal 1; Start up ownership shift processes in companies Delmål 2; Implement the entire ownership shift process in companies Sub-target 3; Increase knowledge of emotional values in the ownership shift processes at corporate advisors Delmål 4; Building up an Ownershift Centre for companies in Dalarna Delmål 5; Develop concepts for business renewal through gender, diversity and environmental aspects Subgoal 6; Building a research and knowledge network