The Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock, has launched a new entrepreneur recruitment campaign.
The programme is aimed at giving individuals the skills needed to run successful companies, which it is hoped will generate employment.
The "New Frontiers" programme is a six-month intensive course, which will focus on giving individuals the entrepreneurial skills needed to set up and run a business.
The course - which was outlined in the Government's "Action Plan for Jobs" - will be rolled out in 13 Institutes of technology and is being funded by Enterprise Ireland.
250 applicants will be accepted on to the first phase of the programme and their business ideas and capabililities as a potential entrepreneur will be tested.
Of those candidates 150 will qualify for a six-month core element of the course where they will be equipped with the key skills needed to run a successful company.
Participants will receive €15,000 from Enterprise Ireland as they focus their efforts on developing a sustainable business.
