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Participating in the ICTI launch are (from left) Regional Manager Ill... |
Region to benefit from ICT industry cluster launch
ICT Illawarra (ICTI), a newly-formed Information and Communication Technology industry cluster centred on the region’s commercial centre, was officially launched last night (20 May) at UOW’s Innovation Campus.
The launch of ICTI recognises the potential for the IT sector in the region based on the success of local companies already performing on the international stage and major international organisations such as CSC and Accenture choosing the region as a key base.
ICTI has been formed to assist with the ongoing growth and competitiveness of the Illawarra's ICT industry.
ICTI President, James Dellow said that while historically the strength of the Illawarra's economy has been focused on heavy industries, such as mining, steel making and manufacturing, the ICT sector has been promoted by all levels of government as an industry that is important to the long-term economic sustainability of the region.
He said by involvement in the cluster, local businesses would be investing in the Illawarra's future through the development of business linkages and skills.
ICTI is incorporated as an independent association with a management committee which includes leaders from local ICT stakeholder businesses.
"While we can all readily identify the few key large ICT businesses and other organisations that use ICT in the Illawarra, in fact there are many more small ICT businesses based in the region that serve regional, national and international markets.
“Because the IT sector is such a globalised business, the more we can do to help these businesses to connect and share skills and knowledge with each other, the better it will be for both those businesses and the Illawarra as a whole," Mr Dellow said.
As well as providing a venue for networking between local IT businesses and large users of ICT, the ICTI cluster will also provide an industry forum to drive, support and implement key strategies to capture local investment and to sustain regional economic growth.
“In practical terms, we will be targeting areas such as business skill development in local ICT companies and playing a role as a conduit to different industry initiatives that local companies might otherwise not be within sight or within reach," Mr Dellow said.
ICT Illawarra was formally launched by the NSW Minister for Transport and Minister for the Illawarra, Mr David Campbell, and University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton.
IT entrepreneur Bob Hayward who was recently appointed Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at CSC, provided a keynote presentation on the current state of the IT sector and opportunities for growth.
This first meeting of the cluster provided prospective cluster members the opportunity to network and to begin to explore the benefits of participating in the cluster.
Local ICT businesses, business users of IT, UOW researchers and people interested in starting an ICT or ICT-related business were all invited last night to what was described as an exciting milestone for ICT in the Illawarra.