The project aims to strengthen the competitiveness of Norrbotten’s small and medium-sized companies that conduct operations in the county’s interior by using gender equality and diversity as leverage in the companies’ innovation and development work. Through increased gender equality and diversity among companies operating in Norrbotten inland, the capacity for internationalisation, new products and services, new markets and an activity that is adaptive to globalisation and increased competition abroad. The project will develop, test and evaluate a method and systematise efforts to ensure long-term gender equality and diversity work in the companies. The project’s efforts are expected to contribute to more innovative and growing companies in the county, strengthening competitiveness and increased profitability through new business models. The project will also be based on a norm-critical approach, which appeals to a breadth of consumers and potential partners, contributing to enhanced ability of companies to communicate and market their products and services. The project helps solve structural problems for entrepreneurship that arises in a sparse population structure and an aging population, including ownership and generational change issues. The possibilities of digitalisation will be used as an integrated part of the project. The project is based on a well-backed need analysis from the action plan Equal regional growth and the report growth conditions for Norrbotten’s business sector. Project objectives: Competitive companies in the interior of Norrbotten that in the longer term show increased profitability and innovative, inclusive activities, attractive for both women and men of different backgrounds and age. The project goal is divided into two sub-goals: 1. A proven method for gender mainstreaming and diversity-integrated companies in 2. Gender-integrated business offices