The competitiveness of European industry is a vital requirement for wellbeing in Europe. The companies have constant need for product, process and production development. Most European higher education institutes (HEIs) provide high quality engineering education and research, but their resources are not utilized for a broad support of industry.The RePCI-project collates the needs of the industry and finds new ways to answer them in order to support the competitiveness of European mechanical engineering companies.In RePCI project four main fundamental changes into university-company cooperation are promoted:1) From random to strategic cooperation2) Competency coaching program for companies3) Real life problem solving process to facilitate new industrial cooperation for students and staff members4) Connections of the HEI network to form strong supply of expertiseRePCI creates new value adding and goal oriented operational and sustainable partnerships between companies and HEIs. New learning and teaching methods in companies and in HEIs are created and demonstrated during the project. Trained competency coaches from partner companies and HEIs are analysing as twosome the learning needs of the staff of companies and planning and monitoring the implementation of tailored in-company educational solutions focusing on removing the bottlenecks of competitiveness. Real life problem solving processes involve students and staff of HEI's in solving problems given into the process by the companies. A platform is built to serve the cooperation of HEIs and companies with emphasis on easy access and usability of the platform. All activities are done in international cooperation bringing additional value to companies, staff and students of HEIs'. Close cooperation in the processes expose both company and HEI staff (and students) into new ways of thinking and new ideas creating a perfect environment for improving skills and new innovations.