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Next-Generation ICT
Australia has a growing reputation for bold innovation in information and communications technology (ICT), founded on its smart people, comprehensive infrastructure and nurturing government policy.
In a region where ICT is dominated by two giants – Japan and China – Australia has a vibrant technology sector, renowned for specialisation in areas such as e-commerce, e-learning, GPS technology, intelligent transport systems, multimedia, nanotechnology, security, smart cards, software development and wireless networking.
Embracing technology
Australia has a population which – like Japan’s – is quick to adopt and embrace new technology. This underpins its ICT strength. Australia is ranked third in the world in e-government readiness and is also seeing rapid adoption of broadband, with more than 1m subscribers.
- 66% of Australian households own or lease a computer;
- 58% of households have internet access;
- 71% of businesses are
connected to the internet; and - 23% of business maintain a web presence.
Technology leadership in these niches means Australia’s ICT market is the third largest in the Asia Pacific at A$89bn, and 10th largest in the world.
A technology-literate, culturally-aware and multilingual workforce means Australia is a popular base for inter-national IT giants. AT&T, Fuji Xerox, Fujitsu, Hitachi, IBM, Microsoft, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsui & Co., Motorola, NEC, Nintendo, NTT, Oracle, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony and Toshiba all have offices in Australia.
“We’ve had access to highly educated engineers and, most importantly, multilingual engineers who can write the scripts for the screens and instruction manuals, even for mobile phones,” says Mr Toshiharu Iwasa, Managing Director of NEC Australia. “We’ve done all of the Thai, Chinese and Japanese on-screen scripts here and incorporated them into the handsets. With the expertise that we have and the track record we have developed, we are very definitely here for the long term.”
Examples of Australian innovation include secure sockets layer (SSL) technology, voice-data processing chips for 3G wireless networks, multi-fibre Bragg gratings for fibre optics, digital tollway systems, and world-leading technologies found in games such as DOOM II and Top Gear Rally.
Powering finance
With sophisticated and mature funds management and securities markets, Australia is also emerging as a significant hub for developing and testing financial software and ICT products. International investment management and portfolio accounting software developer DST International, for in-stance, supports the world’s leading fund administration application, HiPortfolio, from Australia.
“Australia has carved out important software development niches in funds management, privacy, communications and encryption,” says Mr Ian Mathieson, DST International’s CEO for Australia and New Zealand. “It is one
of the most mature financial software development markets worldwide.”
With the ideal combination of experience and expertise, success in a range of global markets, strong government and industry support, and Australia’s fresh, entrepreneurial approach to technology, the future for Australia’s ICT industry is bright.
Article by Invest Australia.
>> www.investaustralia.gov.au/ICT
