Since East Midlands Development Agency (emda) launched the East Midlands 2007-13 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Competitiveness Programme in March 2008, more than £111m ERDF has been awarded to 135 projects across the East Midlands to increase productivity through innovation, improve resource efficiency in businesses, and boost sustainable economic and enterprise activity in less advantaged communities. 

Three years on since the launch of the Programme, a further £48m investment to support sustainable economic and enterprise activity in disadvantaged communities has been announced. 

The East Midlands 2007-13 ERDF Competitiveness Programme is providing €268.5m (currently equivalent to approximately £229m) of investment support across the East Midlands between 2007 and 2013. When combined with match funding this will provide a total Programme value of €537m (equivalent to approximately £458m). 

Around half of this funding is allocated to support sustainable economic and enterprise activity in disadvantaged communities across the region. More than £59m has been allocated specifically to support disadvantaged communities to date, providing enterprise support, access to finance, access to resources and support, and reviving local infrastructure and environments. It has been announced this week that a further £48m will be available for the remaining three years of the Programme to continue this support for disadvantaged communities across the East Midlands. 

The Programme supports a range of beneficiaries including small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), universities, local authorities, business support intermediaries, entrepreneurs, social enterprises and community organisations. Examples of projects supported across the region in the three years since the East Midlands 2007-13 ERDF Competitiveness Programme was launched are: 

• NVision - the University of Northampton's 3D modelling and visualisation centre which has received a £2.5m ERDF grant, with additional financial support from emda and Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited. The facility provides local businesses with access to a demonstration suite and product development modelling, product testing, failure prediction and analysis and 3D visualisation services - collectively helping businesses to achieve resource, environmental and manufacturing efficiencies. 

• The Business Den project in Leicester. Delivered by local charity Apex Leicester Ltd, this project received a £178,686 ERDF grant to develop enterprise opportunities for offenders and ex-offenders in Leicester. It offers intensive mentoring and support for those wishing to become self-employed in their own sustainable business. 

• The University of Nottingham's 'Accelerating a low carbon economy' project, which has been given a £2.7m ERDF grant to increase business innovation in sustainable energy technologies. 

• The Framework Housing Association's 'Bridging the Gap' project in Sutton-in-Ashfield. Bridging the Gap has received a grant of £778,000 to help fund a new skills, employment and enterprise resource centre. The facility will feature incubator units to help local entrepreneurs become established, a cyber café, training and advisory space, plus supported accommodation units for homeless and vulnerable young people. 

• The University of Lincoln's Innovation for Productivity and Competitiveness project, which secured £272,152 in ERDF funding and £402,200 match funding to engage and assist at least 72 SMEs across the region to increase their innovation and productivity through knowledge transfer. 

• A new enterprise centre in Shirebrook, North Derbyshire, which will help attract new businesses and encourage local enterprise. The £4.7m Bolsover District Council project has received a £3.8m ERDF grant. The centre will provide a total of 35 units, with three meeting rooms, offering growing businesses a mix of flexible workspaces. The centre will also include conference facilities offering the latest in modern technology and communications. 

• The University of Derby's iD Centre, which received a £153,433 ERDF grant to help provide incubator facilities for new and emerging technology businesses. 

Stuart Creedy, Head of ERDF at emda, said: "The ERDF Competitiveness Programme is providing a much needed boost to both fledgling and established businesses, supporting innovation, competitiveness and job creation, as well as accelerating economic development in disadvantaged areas, and across the East Midlands as a whole."