145/05
21 December 2005
New Directions for Intelligent Island Program
The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have agreed to a reallocation of the Australian Government Intelligent Island program funds, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan announced today.
“The Intelligent Island program will allocate up to $18 million of the remaining funds to a new Market Access and Partnership Program (MAPP) to assist Tasmanian information, communication and technology (ICT) companies to develop or market an ICT product or service for export from Tasmania,” Senator Coonan said.
The reallocation of Intelligent Island funds follows extensive consultations with the Tasmanian ICT industry by both the Australian and Tasmanian Governments.
The draft MAPP guidelines are located on the Department of Economic Development website, at www.development.tas.gov.au/intelligent. Comments are invited by 30 January 2006, and the first call for MAPP proposals is anticipated in March 2006.
The MAPP grants will support Tasmanian firms in areas of need identified by the ICT industry, including product development, access to external markets, partnership development, and management and business skill acquisition activities.
“Funding applications will be assessed by an independent advisory panel, made up of both local and national expertise, to ensure that the best applications received from all over Tasmania receive funding,” Senator Coonan stated.
A further $15 million will be allocated over five years for the proposed establishment of a CSIRO ICT Centre in Tasmania. CSIRO has undertaken to invest an additional $15 million in the Centre and will develop the research program in consultation with the Tasmanian ICT industry.
The Intelligent Island Project Executive will invite the CSIRO to submit a detailed proposal and is expected to reach a decision on whether to proceed by February 2006.
The proposed CSIRO ICT Centre will provide long‑term support for the ICT innovation base in Tasmania by commercialising new and existing CSIRO intellectual property in collaboration with the Tasmanian ICT industry, building linkages between the Centre, industry and the education sector within and beyond Tasmania and providing research training.
“The Australian Government is committed to the Intelligent Island program objective of a globally competitive ICT sector in Tasmania. The MAPP and CSIRO ICT Centre will help the Tasmanian ICT industry to achieve that objective,” Senator Coonan said.