The manufacturing industry constantly strive to develop the competencies of their expert production engineers in order to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage. Research shows that the absorptive capacity of a firm is central in order to reach such a goal. The absorptive capacity of a firm is their ability to recognize the value of new external information, assimilate it, and apply it to commercial ends, and thereby exploit the conditions for innovation. In this paper we explore the rationales of organizations in the manufacturing industry for taking part in technology-enhanced competence development projects in collaboration with universities. Through interviews with key informants in 15 manufacturing industries we study the capabilities that organizations’ need for participation in e-learning initiatives. We present a framework for technology enhanced learning readiness comprised of awareness, e-learning maturity, dynamic capability and co-creativity.