This study includes the design and testing of a model of research inquiry with the purpose of exploring how agency as well as learning can be increased among industrial companies within the context of competence provision.  We apply the model to an interactive, collaborative research project including researchers, industrial firms and trade organizations and report on the design of the model as well as the evaluation of its ability to increase agency and generate learning. By applying and integrating theories of agency and effectuation logic within the framework of work-integrated learning, our study contributes to the call for developing the micro-practices of interactive research methods and deepen the knowledge on the role of agency, joint learning, and reflection for organizational learning as key prerequisites to sustainable changes in how competence provision challenges is approached by organizations.