APeL R & D is a national centre for interactive and critical research in workplace learning, sustainable regional development and growth. APeL has developed operational cooperation with work life actors in various organisations and at multiple levels.

APeL is a young, dynamic and successful enterprise. Since the start in 1999 we have experienced a tremendous growth: from three to more than 15 employees; an increase of 400 per cent. Even if we continue to grow, APEL will, in the future, still be a strong and innovative research and development environment. We will meet the needs of work life of new forms of work learning and competence development. We will also continue to be closely linked both to the work life actors and to other leading research environments within the same research fields.

APeL is closer to the academic world and its research than most consultants are, but the centre has an independent position compared with many universities’ research centres. One of the key success factors in the growth of APeL has been that the business has grown freely, outside the existing and perhaps limiting structures. All of APeL’s staff have an academic degree, and several have a PhD degree or are PhD-students.

APeL is run as a limited liability company and is funded solely by revenues from its assignments.