We provide a model, framework and tools, including digital, to not only help companies of different size and stage of development connect but also to develop the skills, knowledge and competences of the personnel for Industry 4.0The results of our project develop new educational approach (by the platform), content and materials to foster collaboration and innovation management based on the new standards group CEN/TS 16555.The main project goal is to provide skill improvement opportunities to companies’ staff (managers and employees) in order to connect international start-ups, scaleups, and established companies operating in specific verticals with focus on modern technologies and innovation (Industry 4.0) through a robust model of collaboration under the paradigm of open innovation. In terms of the latter (OI) we focus on business-to-business collaboration as key target are start-ups, scale-ups from one side and mid-sized and large corporats - from another. The specific target group is the staff of both groups - companies in start/growth and established companies. We will target primarily mid- and upper level managers and secondary - employees - in innovation and collaboration roles.Upskilling lab 4.0. as it is revealed by the name aims to establish a model and conditions for collaboration in the Lab conditions for testing and developing innovations for two groups of businesses: in growth - start-ups and scale-ups and established - mid-sized and large. The projects will evolve through iteration cycles as we develop innovations and non-existing training products.The main results are the intellectual outputs with the intermediate results generated at the development steps (activities):O1 Screening model for collaborationO1/A1 Research phase O1/A2 Organisation of focus groups O1/A3 Synthesis report O1/A4 Definition of screening parameters O1/A5 Development of the model O1/A6 Verification and translation O2 Skills development framework O2/A1 Business-to-business open innovation O2/A2 Collaboration management framework O2/A3 Development of skills cards O2/A4 Framework development O2/A5 Verification and translation O3 Upskiling toolkits O3/A1 Training toolkit for start-ups/scale-ups O3/A2 Training toolkit for mid-sized and large companies O3/A3 Pilot testing O3/A4 Finalization and translation O4 Gamified platform O4/A1 Development of collaboration tools O4/A2 Development of collaboration games O4/A3 Beta testing O4/A4 Pilot testing O4/A5 Update and translations O5 Implementation guidelines O5/A1 Templates for data collection and testing O5/A2 Development of case studies and good practices O5/A3 Development of the guidelines O5/A4 Finalization and translation We will involve the target groups since the very beginning of the project during the research phase and the focus groups as O1/A1 and O1/A2.Managers and employees at: start-ups, scale-ups; mid-sized and large companies.We will organize 5 multiplier events - one in each country in months 22 and 24: four national events with 50 participants (200) and one international conference with 70 participants. - 270 in total. In addition we will organize a short-term staff training event in month 18 hosted by Inqubator Leeuwarden.Through social media we will reach out in two years:- project website - 3000- our organisations' websites - 6000- social media accounts - FB page/group of the project, our organisations' pages - 6 partners x 1500 subscribers - 9000- newsletters - we will send regular newsletters - twice a year to our subscribers following the GDPR - 6 partners x 4 times x 500 subscibers/partner - 3000.The project will go through the following phases: 1ST PHASE: INITIATION (during and before application stage); 2ND PHASE: IDEATION AND DEVELOPMENT; 3RD PHASE: IMPLEMENTATION - months 18-21; 4TH PHASE: FINALIZATION AND CLOSUREThe overall logic behind the project is to develop a sustainable model and to impact at all levels as follow - virtually by the last two outputs and physically by direct involvement of the participants in the testing phase and the first outputs development. In mid- to long-term:- Beneficiaries of the results will be able to launch a new line of services and products for those who are already working in Industry 4.0 domain or plan to do so.- Overall innovation level within companies will increase- the screening model together with the skills development framework and the online games and tools can be used by a more users either as stand-alone results or as a complete package and transferred to other training organisations, business service providers, business associations, chambers of commerce. The ultimate goal of the project is to have such Lab as a sustainable model within the partnering organisations.