15/09/2015

Agriculture And Manufacturing 'Competitive Start Fund' Launched

Funding has been secured for a new 'Competitive Start Fund' aimed at stimulating activity in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash, has launched the Enterprise Ireland fund of €500,000.

The new Fund – which will provide up to €50,000 in equity support for each successful applicant and is the first of its type targeting the agricultural and manufacturing sectors – will help start-up and early-stage companies to get off the ground and launch new products and services in the international marketplace.

The priority is to provide young companies in these sectors with the critical early stage funding for the key commercial and technical milestones that will ensure delivery of their product or service, and help them get their project to a key funding milestone.

The fund is open to applications from individuals, early stage companies or prospective businesses operating in the agri-business sector including; machine design and manufacturing; fabrication, engineering and technical activities; life sciences products with application in the agri-sector; farm related software and related services; vet-pharma, animal health and chemical products.  Early stage food companies with the potential to export are also encouraged to apply.

Launching the Fund, Minister Nash said: "A key part of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs is targeting specific sectors where we have established strengths, and supporting growth and expansion in those areas in order to create jobs.

"In Ireland we have very strong agricultural and manufacturing sectors, with great entrepreneurs at the coal face of international business competition.

"New businesses create two-thirds of all new jobs in the economy, and we have made a deliberate decision to support more start-ups in sectors where we have real established strengths.

"This Fund will make a real contribution to supporting more businesses and ultimately more jobs in these important sectors."

The closing date for applications is 15.00, Wednesday 30 September, 2015.

(MH/JP)

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