Ballarat ICT Cluster Receives Further Backing

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The following is a Press Release from the office of Geoff Howard MP, Member for Ballarat East  - 9 June 2006. Media Contact: Mr Geoff Howard MP, 5331 77 22, 0427 334 185

 

A new information and communications technology (ICT) cluster will go ahead in Ballarat with the help of a $65,000 Bracks Government grant, the Member for Ballarat East, Geoff Howard, said today.

Mr Howard said the Regional Innovation Clusters Program grant would support the growth and initial development of the Ballarat ICT Cluster, which will be made up of approximately 50 ICT businesses and agencies in the Ballarat region.

"The cluster builds on the collaborative work of the Victorian Government, the University of Ballarat, Ballarat City Council, and the private sector in promoting and developing Ballarat as one of Australia's foremost information technology hubs," Mr Howard said.

"Ballarat is home to companies such as IBM, Telstra, Neighbourhood Cable, Wiltronics, Netconnect and Bettatech, as well as innovative centres such as the Ballarat Technology Park, the Global Innovation Centre and the Greenhill Enterprise Centre.

"It will also provide an ICT industry forum to drive, support and implement key industry strategies to capture local investment and to sustain regional economic growth."

The cluster will focus on six key areas in its first stage of development:

  • An Engagement Program, to actively engage the local ICT industry and regional stakeholders to participate and collaborate;
  • Business intelligence, to research and profile the capabilities of the industry within the region;
  • Profiling and Marketing, to help cluster members capture investment opportunities in local, domestic and international markets, and to profile local technology development;
  • ICT Demonstration Projects, to facilitate relationships and pilot projects between large and small organisations in areas such as product innovation, tendering and commercialisation;
  • Professional Development, to help equip and skill businesses in the cluster; and
  • Exports, to support export orientated and active firms in pursuit of international markets.

 

Mr Howard said the funding was on top of a $35,925 Bracks Government grant for a feasibility study into a Ballarat ICT cluster, announced by the Minister for State and Regional Development, John Brumby in August last year.

He said the City of Ballarat was the auspicing body for the Ballarat ICT Cluster, and was contributing $65,000 to the $130,000 overall costs.

"The Victorian Government has a strong record of driving innovation to help build a smarter State, investing more than $1.4 billion over the last six and a half years in science and technology initiatives," Mr Howard said.

"By forming clusters, businesses and the tertiary sector can learn from each other, share the risk and cost of introducing new technology and increase their chance of success in the marketplace."

Geoff Howard, Member for Ballarat East, announces a $65,000 Bracks Government grant for Ballarat ICT.