Sunday Independent: Our understanding of what good design means has evolved as companies recognise its commercial potential across sectors.

Carne, an Irish global provider of fund management company solutions to the asset management industry, announced 50 jobs at a new regulatory technology, development and operations centre of excellence in Co. Kilkenny.

Taxback International, a VAT recovery specialist, announced 80 jobs at its Kilkenny headquarters. The roles are being created across a number of departments to deal with an increased demand for the company's services from both Irish and international clients.

Ennis-based, CupPrint announced new eco-friendly products, expansion of its manufacturing facility and 15 jobs.

Enterprise Ireland has launched a fund that offers companies access up to €150,000 for research and development (R&D) projects in a fast-track application process.

More than €5.5 million was approved for investment in female-led companies in 2016 and this level of investment will be higher again in 2017.

“Connect the Dots is a story of being pulled by the market and it started with us noticing a problem – a disconnect,” explains sociologist Marisa Denker, who co-founded the company with Naomi Murphy earlier this year.

There are plenty of big multinational firms looking for talent. However, there are also plenty of reasons to opt for a start-up instead.

Ireland’s strong collaborative ethos makes it attractive to fintechs as well as the support of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.

Winner of this year’s High Potential Export Award from the Irish Exporters Association, Broderick's cake company in Dublin is achieving international growth with a brand image that’s just a little bit wacky.

Wicklow-based company, H2Ozone, has raised €3m to fund international expansion as it looks to grow export sales of its chemical-free water purification technology.

Virtual reality is very much becoming a real-life reality in the tech space in Ireland, and WarDuck's CEO, Nikki Lannen, is leading the way.

Offering fast-track approval and a streamlined online application process, the Agile Innovation Fund will allow companies to access up to 50% in support for product, process or service development projects with a total cost of up to €300,000.

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) has signed bilateral agreements with three South Korean universities during an Enterprise Ireland education mission to Seoul, led by Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD.

A spokesperson for the council said preference will be given to businesses operating in the manufacturing sector or to those with the potential to become internationally traded services and graduate to the Enterprise Ireland portfolio. 

Young female entrepreneurs are invited to enter their big business idea and pitch it at the I Wish events which take place in Cork and Dublin in January 2018. The winning business idea will qualify for a special I Wish internship with a leading STEM multinational.