The Smart Manufacturing Research Infrastructure development project and the parallel investment project will increase and improve the capabilities of Karelia's research, development, learning and innovation infrastructure to utilize new, more advanced manufacturing and material technologies in RDI activities. In addition, the project pair explores new opportunities for the technology industry in the North Karelia region to connect to the component manufacturing of green energy machinery and equipment. According to the Regional Just Transition Plan for North Karelia, the economic and industrial structural changes caused by the abandonment of the energy use of peat moss and the related social impacts can be mitigated by offering companies in the peat sector and their personnel compensatory activities. Higher education institutions can promote the positive development of these substituting activities by supporting research and creating demonstration and learning environments based on the needs of business life. According to the Ministry of Finance, the Government and the Research and Innovation Council, investing in learning and research environments is seen as a key measure to strengthen activities between public entities and enterprises. In order to achieve economic growth, the National Reform Program has set a target level of 4% of GDP for raising R&D expenditure. More than 50 technology industry companies in the region are connected to Karelia's learning and research environments. In the North Karelia region, technology industry companies are the most likely workplace for young former peat industry workers. Also as peat production decreases some peat industry companies can convert their job descriptions to the plastics and metal industry sector. Technology industry companies in the North Karelia region have a constant need for new experts and need for development of new product and production processes. The metal industry in North Karelia is a strong expert in the manufacture of mobile machinery and other large machines and equipment. The replacement of peat moss as energy source and the transformation of green energy are seen as a significant opportunity for the technology industry to start producing the equipment and components needed in green energy production. According to the Government's report, the hydrogen economy, for example, is expected to be a more significant replacement for peat production. The hydrogen and other green energy technology sector will need tens of thousands of technology experts and a large amount of equipment. The production, transfer, storage and distribution of hydrogen alone requires a lot of new machinery, equipment and components. Other green energy equipment constructions (biogas production, solar collectors, wind turbines, etc.) will also require a significant number of components. The smart manufacturing development project examines the framework conditions and necessary capabilities needed to produce the components of the hydrogen economy and other green energy technology. The main objective of smart manufacturing projects is to renew and diversify the regional economy and business life of North Karelia through RDI investments, and to promote the transition to a climate-neutral economy. The project cuts through the goals of the North Karelia Smart Specialization Strategy (ÄES). This means, for example, introducing new technologies and strengthening people's technological skills. This will contribute to the transition towards a green economy. The project has been designed in cooperation with the business sector, and the development targets of the project are based on the needs identified in the business network to renew production technology. The reform needs that have emerged have a clear impact on the competitiveness of industry in the region. New solutions aim for better products and completely new technological solutions. The reform needs that have emerged from regional industry are additive manufacturing, combination machining technologies in precision manufacturing and precision laser cutting, as well as the development of intelligent manufacturing simulation environments (advanced automation technology). Through RDI work based on experimentation and co-creation, the project focuses on improving companies' competence and innovation opportunities. The measures of the investment project are defined and procured: - Laser cutting equipment suitable for precision machining of special materials and high-speed machine tool suitable for hybrid machining. - 3D printing equipment for composite materials suitable for optimizing structures - Additional purchases of simulation software for Karelia's Industry 4.0 demonstration environment for research and teaching purposes (measurement-assisted production test cell, MAP cell)