<< Background >>Lean is the most successful approach to business improvement of our generation. In addition, the application of Industry 4.0 technologies shows great potential for further business improvement. Several studies indicate the need to create links between Lean and Industry 4.0 technologies to stimulate innovation in the industry. However, there is currently no satisfactory framework combining these two areas, and LEAN 4.0 aims to develop such a framework.<< Objectives >>The aims and objectives of LEAN 4.0 are (i) to develop new, innovative, and multidisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning, (ii) to improve entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial skills of higher education teaching staff and company staff, and (iii) to stimulate exchange, flow and co-creation of knowledge.<< Implementation >>The project is organized in inter-connected work packages (WP), reflecting the strategy by which we will achieve the expected objectives. WP1 and WP2 are preparatory work packages, WP3-WP5 are developments based on outputs from WP1 and WP2, WP6 test the developments results from WP3-WP5 in multiple pilots, WP7 unifies the results, experiences and outputs into a coherent and generalized reference model for manufacturing, WP8 is dissemination of project results and WP9 is project management.<< Results >>The main results of the project include:•Self-Assessment Tool for Smart Lean Operations•Taxonomy of Smart Lean Operations and collection of best practices of Process Innovations within Smart Lean Operations•Organizational learning readiness assessment tool•Taxonomy of Network Action Learning•Decision Support System for Smart Lean Operations•Blended Network Action Learning (BNAL) Methodology•Web-based Platform•16 Pilot Projects•Reference Model for Smart Lean Operations