BuSiNESS OppOrTuNiTyThe Government is to create a new £75 million fund to encourage small andmedium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to invest intechnology and innovation.The announcement was made alongsidedetails of a range of measures designed toencourage growth as part of theGovernment's new Innovation and ResearchStrategy report, which states that technologyfunding will be delivered by the TechnologyStrategy Board.Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the TechnologyStrategy Board, said: "A good deal of theinnovation that happens in the UK comesfrom SMEs and with innovation comesbusiness growth."This new package of measures will help toput these businesses at the forefront of thecountry's economic recovery. This packageenables the Technology Strategy Board to doeven more to stimulate business-ledinnovation in its leading role as the UK'sinnovation agency."In addition to the new fund, the Board alsoplans to encourage collaboration betweenSMEs and research organisations, such asuniversities, using a voucher scheme.There will also be additional fundingavailable to the Smart scheme, whichprovides finance to SMEs engaging inresearch and development projects with theaim of producing new services or products.The report also suggests the Government willhelp SMEs grow with additional funding to theSmall Business Research Initiative (SBRI), whichencourages uptake of public sector contractsby SMEs and helps them become moreaccustomed with the procurement process.For more information about the fund pleasevisit: www.bis.gov.ukgovernment announces £75 million technology andinnovation fund for SmEsBrOadlaNd BuSiNESS FOCuS25

COmmuNiTy26BrOadlaNd BuSiNESS FOCuSSomewhereto . is a project inspired bythe London 2012 Olympic & ParalympicGames, and is a nationwide project to helpyoung people aged 16 - 25 to find the spacethey need to do the things they love, withinsport, culture and the art.The project is basically about offering spacefor young people to make things happen intheir local area. So if someone needs ameeting space for a book group,somewhereto_ showcase their poetry, bandrehearsal space, access to space to draw,choir practice space, etc. we are helpingthem find it by talking to local 'spaceholders' who might be able to help. It really can be almost anything (within arts,sports and culture), maybe you needsomewhereto_ to exhibit, to publish, todraw, to screen, to think, to install, topractice, to perform, to create, to promote,to run, to... if you need a space to do it thensomewhereto_ is the place to go!There is a constantly growing selection ofspaces available on the website, but even ifyou cannot see a space up there like the oneyou would like, we can still help. Once youput a request in for a space we startsearching for what you want. If there is aspace up there, but it's in the wrong area,we can look for a space like that but in theright area.To get started on your somewhereto_journey it is as simple as going towww.somewhereto.com and telling us whoyou are, where you are, what you arepassionate or interested in and the kinds ofspace you would be looking for. This thengoes directly to your regional coordinatorand they will be in contact within 72 hours.To keep in the loop of what's going on withsomewhereto_ in the east you can find us ontwitter @somewhereto_EST or have a look atthe somewhereto_ facebook pageSomewhereto .