Intelligent Island Strategy

On 21 December 2005, the Australian and Tasmanian Governments jointly announced new directions for Phase 2 of the Intelligent Island Program. Phase 2 will see a new research centre established in the state and a new grants program that will encourage local ICT companies to develop products and market them on a global scale.

$15 million was allocated to establish and operate the Tasmanian ICT Centre, as a centre of excellence for research and development in the ICT sector, and up to $18 million to the Market Access and Partnership Program (MAPP).

The funding agreement has been approved between the Tasmanian Department of Economic Development and Tourism and CSIRO to establish the Tasmanian ICT Centre.

Importantly, CSIRO has committed to co-invest a matching level of funding and in-kind contribution in the Centre over the term of the agreement, bringing the total investment in the new centre to $30 million over the next five years.

Tasmanian ICT Centre

The Centre will connect Tasmania to national and international ICT research and development, and create new business and growth opportunities for the Tasmanian ICT Industry.

The Centre will develop ICT products and new technology for use in Australia and the wider global market, and provide access for the Tasmanian companies to existing Centre intellectual property. 

The Centre will provide public sector research and development to industry, with emphasis on applied research and the creation of new products and services.

CSIRO has agreed to put into action a strategy to attract sufficient ‘other contributions’ and/or support from industry to enable the Centre to continue beyond expiration of the agreement.

CSIRO will increase the availability within Tasmania of world-class ICT research and commercialisation skills by providing post-graduate training, incorporating significant engagement by researchers with industry, and attracting ICT researchers from within Australia and overseas.

As part of the agreement CSIRO will establish 30 new research jobs and ten PhD positions at the Centre.

The Centre offers a compelling value proposition for the Tasmanian ICT industry, with a number of key benefits that include:

• increased revenues through technology transfer or sale through building and marketing new products and services
  
• increased revenues through partnership and joint venturing to develop and commercialise CSIRO intellectual property
  
• acceleration of product development through licensing of CSIRO intellectual property and/or use of its skills and infrastructure
  
• increased revenues and opportunities through partnership with CSIRO, or the use of Centre resources
  
• new advanced ICT skill base through the Centre’s PhD program.
  
  

As part of the agreement CSIRO will establish 30 new research jobs and ten PhD positions at the Centre.

Dr Stephen Giugni has been appointed to the position of CEO for the Tasmanian ICT Centre.  Dr Giugni has been involved in research and research management with CSIRO for 14 years.

CSIRO has selected the redeveloped CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research facility at Sullivans Cove in Hobart as the location for the Centre.

Market Access & Partnership Program

The Market Access and Partnership Program (MAPP), will provide significant grant funding between 2006 and 2010.

MAPP is a competitive, merit-based grant program that supports Tasmanian ICT companies to develop or market products or services for a global market.

MAPP addresses the local ICT Industry's request for funding in four main areas:

• to assist the growth of Tasmanian ICT businesses through business and product development
• to encourage the development of partnerships for businesses at all stages of development
• to provide companies with opportunities to access business and management skills
• to increase access to external markets.

MAPP will provide up to $18 million in grants between 2006 and 2010.  The majority of these funds will be for specific industry led projects from $200,000 up to a limit of $2 million of up to three years in duration.  These grants will be known as MAPP Commercial Grants.

A percentage of MAPP funds (capped at 10 per cent) will be allocated to activities of benefit to the Tasmanian ICT industry as a whole.  These will be known as MAPP Special Project grants and will be at the discretion of the Intelligent Island Project Executive.

There will be two MAPP Commercial Grant rounds in 2006 and, subject to funds not being fully committed in earlier rounds, a further two rounds in 2007.

An independent industry-based assessment panel will assess and rate eligible applications for MAPP Commercial Grants against a set of defined merit criteria. These criteria will include:

• commercial viability and management capability of the applicant (including strategies to augment that capability)
• commercial potential of the project
• strength of the project and the capacity to complete it
• extent to which the project meets the objectives of the Intelligent Island program
• need for funding, including grantee contribution and leverage of grant funding.

The assessment panel will make recommendations to the Intelligent Island Project Executive who will make the final decision regarding awarding of MAPP funding.