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Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton today announced that the Government, through Enterprise Ireland, supported the establishment of 80 new high potential start up companies in 2010, involving over 150 entrepreneurs.

These companies will create over 770 new jobs over the next three years, bringing their total employment to almost 1,300. Total sales over the same three year period are expected to reach €528 million, with exports accounting for over 80% of this figure.

Making the announcement at Enterprise Ireland’s annual High Potential Start Ups Showcase event, Minister Bruton said...

Government does not create jobs, businesses do; but government has a crucial role in the process through creating the environment and providing the supports which allow businesses to thrive.

If we are to turn the corner and get employment growing again we must ensure that we do everything we can to address three key policy areas:

· reducing business costs;

· improving access to finance; and

· encouraging R&D, innovation and commercialisation so as to ensure that good ideas can become good jobs.

We must also ensure that the public sector, as a significant economic actor in its own right, takes the lead in each of these areas.

Minister Bruton concluded...

Enterprise Ireland’s High Potential Start-Up Programme, which supports the innovative, export-oriented businesses that will grow quickly and create the jobs of the future, is a key part of this job-creation strategy. Today’s event demonstrates what government and the private sector can do when they work together, and I am delighted to showcase the 80 projects supported in 2010 with the creation of 770 jobs and €528million in sales. It is particularly welcome to see that ten of the companies showcased today have developed from research in our third level institutions, which represents a substantial increase over previous years