2007-2013 Programmes : ERDF Programme
Please note that at present there are no plans for any further open calls for new funding applications for the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland 2007-2013 ERDF and ESF Programmes with the exception of Priority 3 ERDF.
The Programme Monitoring Committee will consider options to maximise the use of remaining funds and any under-spends at a future meeting. When utilised, it is envisaged that funds will be further targeted to add value to Scottish Government policy priorities, and the Managing Authority will liaise with key stakeholder organisations to commission eligible projects.
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is a vehicle for promoting the economic development and regeneration of defined areas within the Member States of the European Union.
It is essential that the Programme aims to deliver lasting legacies to the region. The Programme can do this by making real contributions to tackle both the region-wide challenges of research and innovation and enterprise development as well as the localised challenges of urban and rural areas within the region.
The Lowlands and Uplands region has clear strengths and opportunities on which it can build, particularly with respect to its research and innovation, environmental and human capital resources. However, it is recognised that there are a range of significant weaknesses and challenges, deriving from low productivity, new firm formation rates, the commercial application of research and innovation, as well as the specific challenges for economic development in urban areas of high deprivation and rural areas facing low economic growth.
A number of key challenges have been identified for the ERDF Programme:
- Increasing the regional benefits of a strong higher and further education sector
- Improving RTD and innovation across the region
- Increasing the number of people becoming entrepreneurs
- Addressing the development bottlenecks for new and growing businesses
- Improving the indigenous enterprise development of the most disadvantaged urban communities
- Improving the ability of disadvantaged urban communities to access economic growth in the areas of opportunity
- Increasing the diversification of the rural economy into new activities, while supporting sustainable competitiveness of traditional industries
- Improving key support services to underpin the sustainability of rural economic development
The Programme will make its principal contributions and added value through:
- acting as a lever to encourage domestic resources to address the key development challenges
- investing in the key research and innovation sources in the regional economy and encouraging their greater use by enterprises
- promoting a more pro-active approach to research and innovation among all businesses
- increasing the level of new firm formation
- improving the conditions for indigenous economic growth in the most deprived urban areas
The ERDF Programme operates through four sets of Objectives to address market failures in the following areas. Below is a list of the priorities with the total funding allocations and committed funds to date for each (updated June 2011):
| Priority | Total Allocation | Committed Funds | % of Grant Committed | |
| ERDF Priority 1 - Research and Innovation | |
£82,898,704 | £84,615,929 | 102.00% |
| ERDF Priority 2 - Enterprise Growth | £109.,967,669 | £104,613,913 | 95.13% | |
| ERDF Priority 3 - Urban Regeneration |
£91,357,756 | £71,933,517 | 78.73% | |
| ERDF Priority 4 - Rural Development | £46,017,241 | £25,790,897 | 56.04% |
Please note that funding allocation values are based on recent exchange rates against the Euro (currently £0.90 = €1) and as a result are subject to change throughout the lifetime of the Programme. In addition, note that the figure for Priority 3 takes account of the £24 million to capitalise a JESSICA fund and and a figure of £10m has also been ring-fenced (although not formally approved) for associated JESSICA infrastructure projects. The Priority 4 figure includes approved bids from the South of Scotland Global Grants Body
The following sections detail the specific policy objectives under each of the Priorities.
On 22 January 2010 the European Commission (decision C(2010)417 attached) agreed amendments to the LUPS ERDF Operational Programme. Changes were made to eligible areas and activity for ERDF Priorities 1, 3 and 4, and amendments were made to the Programme’s financial tables. Further information can be found in the documents below:
Details of changes to Operational Programme
Scottish Government proposals paper
European Commission decision on changes to Operational Programme
Revised Operational Programme
Energy Efficiency Regulation
