High-potential start-ups to create 1,600 new jobs in three years

6 Mar 2013

Some 97 high-potential start-ups (HPSUs) backed by Enterprise Ireland this year will generate 1,600 new jobs and will generate exports of €300m within three years, Small Business Minister John Perry, TD, said this morning.

Perry was speaking at a showcase of HPSUs at the Mansion House in Dublin.

The companies straddle a broad array of emerging industries, from financial services and life sciences, to ICT, games, pharmaceuticals, clean tech and medical devices.

The showcase also featured 60 early stage entrepreneurs supported by the Enterprise Ireland Competitive Start Fund and representatives from the 2012 New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme.

“The Government’s Action Plan for Jobs places innovative entrepreneurs and businesses right at the heart of the drive to accelerate jobs growth and economic prosperity,” Perry said.  

“Ambitious, export-focused projects like those featured today and supported by Enterprise Ireland are central to this, and will play a critical part in achieving the levels of growth and employment that we need.

“Our priority is to ensure that more high-growth businesses can set up, expand and turn into large employers. The establishment of close to 100 new high-potential start-up companies in 2012 with support from Enterprise Ireland represents a very significant achievement.  

“These companies make a very considerable contribution to the economy and under the Action Plan for Jobs we are determined that young, innovative companies like these are supported to increase their impact on export growth and job creation,” Perry said.

The head of HPSUs at Enterprise Ireland Greg Treston added: “A key priority for us is to see more young and innovative people starting businesses and the New Frontiers programme and Competitive Start Funds are there particularly to help these young first-time entrepreneurs.”

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com