NSW Government develops Digital Economy Industry Taskforce

The state has  injected  $3 million into supporting digital content projects.

The NSW Government has revealed an industry taskforce to develop a Digital Economy Industry Action Plan for the state. It also introduced $3 million injection to support creative digital content projects during a two-year period.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner, said NSW was committed to working with industry to grow the State’s digital economy.

The taskforce will work with the NSW Government to develop a 10-year Digital Economy Industry Action Plan for the state.

The action plan will focus on sub-sectors expected to support long term productivity and innovation growth and export opportunities including digital content and applications, information services and analytics, and smart networks and intelligent technologies.

Wider industry and public input will be sought in developing the Digital Economy Industry Action Plan through metropolitan and regional forums, online consultations, and a formal request for submissions.
The $3 million Interactive Media Fund will support creative digital content, including electronic games and transmedia projects.

In May, Stoner announced funding for 20 creative digital content projects under the Digital Media Initiative.
“The Interactive Media Fund represents a renewed focus on interactive content, a key element in digital innovation with the ability to benefit other sectors such as health, finance and education,” Stoner said.

“We’re also increasing the amount of enterprise funding available under the Interactive Media Fund from $100,000 to $250,000 to better help expanding companies bring in specialist skills to work across complex projects.”

The taskforce involves IBM’s Glenn Wightwick, Omnilab’s Tom Kennedy, Freelancer.com’s Matt Barrie, Telstra’s Deena Shiff, Ausgrid’s Peter Birk, The Project Factory’s Jennifer Wilson, OneVentures’ Michelle Deaker, CSIRO’s Alex Zelinsky and Foxtel’s Robyn Elliot.

Source: ARNet
Date:  13 October2011
URL:  http://www.arnnet.com.au