ACS proposes local ICT investment initiatives

Stan Beer
Monday, 31 October 2005 11:00

IT Policy - Regulation

The ACS (Australian Computer Society) has called on the Federal Government to change its purchasing policies to enable SMEs to compete against multinationals when going for ICT tenders.

The call was issued to a House of Representatives inquiry into technology innovation. The ACS proposed a number of initiatives to kick-start investment and innovation in Australia’s technology sector - including schemes to boost the commercial acumen of SMEs and to support government departments in testing and piloting Australian innovations. 

Aside from calling on the Government to support SMEs when making purchasing decisions, the ACS made the following recommendations:

Develop programs to promote partnering between research institutions, government and local SMEs;

Allow government departments to invest a small portion (for example 0.5%) of their technology budget to test and pilot innovative Australian technology;

Boost the sales and marketing skills base of local ICT companies to assist in the growth and export potential of the local industry;

Establish a mentoring program to place successful business leaders onto the boards of our fledgling technology companies.

“The ACS believes that boosting our ICT innovation, intellectual property development and commercialisation can best be achieved by partnering between research institutions and government with local SMEs,’’ said ACS vice president, Philip Argy. “Australia’s future depends on our ability to invest in and use ICT knowledge and skills to create intellectual property that can be rolled out both nationally and to overseas markets. Only then can we successfully produce, commercialise and market ICT innovations."

The ACS said that, as the largest purchaser of ICT products, the Government should be encouraged to set an example, which will help to improve skill development, innovation and the overall capabilities of the industry. 

“Australian technology companies need to improve their skills base in order to compete with multinational providers. Improved business skills will create increased investment in Australian industry rather than selling off innovations to foreign companies,” Argy said. “The most effective way to introduce these skills would be by including business subjects in ICT courses at university, college and other educational institutions.”