European Regional Development Fund

ERDF, one of the Structural Funds of the Cohesion Policy, aims to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the EU through helping regions to anticipate and promote economic change through innovation.

 

In short, the ERDF finances:

  • direct aid to investments in companies (in particular SMEs) to create sustainable jobs;
  • infrastructures linked notably to research and innovation, telecommunications, environment, energy and transport;
  • financial instruments (capital risk funds, local development funds, etc.) to support regional and local development and to foster cooperation between towns and regions;
  • technical assistance measures.

During the economic crisis, the programme was amended to include Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency investments in housing.

ERDF also supports cross-border co-operation through joint local and regional initiatives, transnational co-operation and interregional co-operation, which fall under the Territorial Co-operation Programme (formerly INTERREG).

For further information on ERDF, please visit the website

 

ESEP administer the EU Structural Funds Programmes in the Lowlands and Uplands of Scotland.

 

HIPP administer the EU Structural Funds Programmes for the Highlands and Islands.