Two of the country’s brightest young scientists are taking the first steps in transforming their cutting-edge scientific research into a fully-fledged business having landed the top prize at the Google Global Science Fair with the idea last year.

The IT sector’s representative body in the south of the country, it@Cork, has submitted an application to the Government seeking funding for an initiative that could create 1,300 jobs over the coming years.

Irish companies are at risk of large-scale data breaches that could leave them open to significant liabilities, a legal expert has warned.

The vast majority of companies are wasting time and effort when they make the foray into social media as they have no plan in place, according to Niall Devitt from the Ahain Group.