Competence for Smart Specialisation - Talent Hub North

Strengthening Skills Supply for SMEs in Luleå and Boden through Increased Student Engagement and Collaboration

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Luleå and Boden are facing a growing need for employees with higher education, particularly within the region’s areas of smart specialisation. At the same time, the sought-after competence is already present – in the form of students at Luleå University of Technology (LTU). Despite this, a majority of students leave the region after graduation, largely due to a lack of strong connections to local businesses and the region during their studies.

The aim of the project is to secure the future skills supply for SMEs by building long-term relationships between students, businesses, and the local community. More students should choose to remain in the region after graduation by gaining early contact with employers, understanding the local opportunities, and experiencing Luleå and Boden as attractive places to live and work.

To enable this, a collaborative concept is being developed by LTU, the municipalities, and actors within the regional innovation ecosystem. The concept focuses on:

• Strengthening SMEs' capacity to host and engage students through supervisor support and leadership training,
• Creating clear meeting points and collaborative arenas between students, companies, and municipalities,
• Increasing understanding of how collaboration with academia and local authorities can enhance talent acquisition,
• Contributing to the region’s attractiveness for young professionals.

The project will involve 15 SMEs from Luleå and Boden to test and refine a scalable approach for how smaller companies can harness student talent – and how to build the relationships that lead to future recruitment.