Goal The Hydraulic cluster is a leading centre of expertise within Applied Hydraulics that attracts companies and academia in business developing collaboration and strengthens the company’s competitiveness and the region’s international position in hydraulics. Within three years, the cluster will be a stable platform for development, established for increased collaboration between companies and academia in research as well as technology and product development. Interim target 1-3 1. Develop the cluster initiative into a real cluster that contributes to local and regional growth by strengthening and developing participating companies. 2. Develop forms of cooperation between member companies, other clusters within the region and academia to attract expertise to the region. 3. Create a basis for establishing a joint demo centre where companies’ products and services can be tested and shown to stakeholders. Investment for the actual construction of the demo centre is financed by a separate project. Examples of activities: Determining the needs and future use of joint demo centres. Demonstrator projects – show that technology works and to market technology solutions. Development of the number of members of the cluster. Degree Projects Collaborations within prioritised engineering area and draw up a project description. Results from the joint technology project are evaluated and presented to other member companies. Product development – Energy efficient systems, Operating systems, Permit control and remote monitoring. Seminars Regional business participation Several of the companies in the current hydraulic cluster have an active relationship with the municipality and have worked with education issues in different ways. They are engaged in Technology College, Kom Tek, Girls and Technology as well as in Collaboration Learning Working Life. Under Teknikföretagen there are networks for both CEOs and purchasing managers. The Purchasing Group works actively to improve prices for its member companies by coordinating a number of purchases. The companies also have some joint activities within Lean Production. Together, Hudiksvalls Industri Teknik (HIT) was developed, which is a post-secondary education of one year. Young people are guaranteed employment after completing their training and internship at one of the local companies. Several of the member companies have established partnerships with other companies in the region in technology and other types of services. The aim of the project is to develop cooperation through dissemination of technology such as open seminars and invitations to project collaboration. Expected result and benefit The number of employees and the turnover of cluster companies has increased by at least 10 %. Other important results are that at least three joint development projects and one research project must be ongoing or completed during the project period. Furthermore, the number of completed or ongoing degree workers from higher education institutions and universities must be at least 8. One important result for the cluster’s continuation after the project period is that there is evidence to establish a joint demo centre where companies’ products and services can be tested and shown to stakeholders.