The Ulster Bank global entrepreneurship monitor has found that younger adults in Northern Ireland were more likely to be starting their own business than their peers in Scotland and Wales.
It said the entrepreneurial activity rate is highest in Northern Ireland among those aged 25 to 34 (10%).
That was up from a figure of 5.5% in the period 2002-04, and compares to a figure of 9.2% in Scotland and 6.5% in Wales.
The research was conducted in Great Britain and Northern Ireland by academics including some from Queen’s University Belfast.
Ulster Bank operates an entrepreneurship accelerator to encourage the success of start-ups.
The findings said there were more male entrepreneurs here than female- though Ulster Bank said that the most recent intake into its accelerator programme was just under 60% female.
At a UK level, two-thirds of women said they started a business to contribute to society, compared to 39% of men.
The percentage of people saying that there are good opportunities for a start-up in their area in the next six months was recorded at 29.1% in Northern Ireland – slightly below the average of 34.5%, but an increase of almost half (47.8%) in the past five years.
Ulster Bank’s director of entrepreneurship, Lynsey Cunningham, said: “Northern Ireland still has a way to go to in creating the entrepreneurial businesses that will drive private sector growth, but there are encouraging signs.
“In our entrepreneur accelerator, I see day and daily the talent and inspiring ideas of these start-up and scale-up businesses and Ulster Bank is committed to supporting more and more entrepreneurs with the practical support, advice and funding that they need to thrive.
“We see that people recognise the importance and value of entrepreneurship.
“However, entrepreneurs need a supportive culture in order to grow and it is vital that all those involved in nurturing and developing early stage and scale-up businesses work together to signpost best practice and the tools they need to grow.”
Lecturer in entrepreneurship at Queen’s, Dr Karen Bonner, said: “It is key that we continue to develop the entrepreneurial mindset, particularly amongst young people, and give them the confidence to start their own business, as this is one area we are particularly lacking”.