An Irish company has pulled off a major coup in hiring one of Google’s most celebrated engineers, writes Pádraig Hoare of the Irish Examiner.

The search for the next entrepreneurs to resuscitate the economy hasbegun, with Enterprise Ireland, the National Research and Design Centre LaunchPad programme, and it@cork announcing a new batch of start-ups.

US venture capitalists are expected to make significant investments in the economy after a €60m round of funding was unveiled in San Francisco yesterday by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton.

Venture capital investment in Irish companies has increased dramatically in the first quarter of 2005, with the €75.4m invested more than twice the amount invested in the previous quarter.

A Northern Ireland company today announced a £10.5m (€15.3m) invstment in its business by leading venture capital companies.