THE International Fund for Ireland has approved grants totalling £2 million sterling for small businesses in Northern Ireland and the Border counties.

The funds are aimed at supporting businesses to set up joint ventures with companies in the United States. Last year Radius allocated funding of £500,000 as part of a pilot project.

Those involved were the Belfast company Integrated Silicon Systems with Xilinx, of San Jose in California; Facility Management Workshop in Dundalk with the Denver based Inform Worldwide; and Digitome in Sligo with Californian firm, Unisys Inc.