The overall goal of the project is to increase the number of innovative SMEs by developing the region towards smart specialisation in energy efficient urban planning project objective is that more SMEs in the region succeed with innovative development. Develop the Energy Competence Centre as the node for the university’s energy collaboration with the surrounding community Subgoal 2: Strategic competence development to strengthen the region’s preconditions to develop within climate neutral and sustainable society. Sub-target 3: To promote a more attractive and stronger region for innovation and development. Sub-target 4: Coordinate the region’s stakeholders for smart specialisation in energy efficient urban planning. Working methods The working form is proactive and builds systematic knowledge through research and coordinated work for smart specialisation in energy efficient urban planning. The project identifies the need for knowledge-enhancing activities for companies with the help of industry analyses, business intelligence and trend reconnaissance in order to continuously follow the knowledge build-up and change in the outside world that energy conversion entails. The intention is also to identify and start collaborating with the companies in the region that are deemed to be key companies in the energy transition. When it is time to carry out development work with companies, the project will work to get these into separate projects and make use of opportunities to pay for limited work with innovation checks or similar. The regional business sector participates partly through direct collaborations such as participation in R & D projects, knowledge-enhancing activities, initiated degree projects (which are then carried out as part of the University’s regular activities), and indirectly through test beds and innovation arenas At the end of the project, research links in the region’s industry in the area of energy efficient urban construction have been strengthened, with more companies involved in national and international R & D projects. The innovation climate in sustainable and energy efficient urban development has increased by the creation of new test beds or under construction, the knowledge of the energy transition has increased in the region. Collaboration between the region’s stakeholders in the field of energy efficient urban planning has been developed and the Region as a whole has joined and is an active part of the European partnerships Education and research at Dalarna University has been strengthened and become more known and lasting collaboration between the University and key companies in the region has been initiated By making the knowledge need for energy efficient urban planning clearer, it helps people with experience and education from other countries to find jobs where their specific expertise and experience can be useful which helps the region’s companies to attract competent work. Through activities in which gender aspects and equal treatment in the energy sector are highlighted and problematised, awareness of how unequal workplaces can limit their ability to recruit skilled labour has increased (or retain the workforce they have) and inspires women to apply to higher education in the field of energy and community planning. In the long term, the project is expected to strengthen the conditions for innovative development of the region’s SME and the University’s research collaboration with the region’s industry is increasing, which the project owner takes advantage of for more attractive teaching to greater benefit to the region’s industry. The Energy Competence Centre (ECC) at the University will be strengthened and have developed operations and broadened network of contacts after the project period. The project’s activities will contribute to sustainable regional growth by raising the knowledge and innovative development capabilities of the region’s companies. The project finally contributes to the Europe 2020 strategy by supporting and developing growth in the energy sector – energy efficiency and renewable energy.