NSW set for Digital Economy master plan
New South Wales Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner has today revealed who was to lead the industry taskforce responsible for developing the state's decade-long Digital Economy strategy.
Speaking at the GAP Annual Growth Summit today, Stoner revealed that the Digital Economy taskforce would be steered by Glenn Wightwick, director of IBM Research and Development Australia.
Stoner said that Wightwick's taskforce will develop a 10-year strategy to foster the state's Digital Economy, with a specific focus on digital content and its applications, information services, data analytics and smart networks — a task to which Wightwick is well suited for after his extensive work into IBM's "smarter planet" initiatives.
"The Industry Action Plans and Industry Taskforces will identify what both industry and government can do to strengthen key NSW industries in the face of challenges within Australia and overseas.
"These Industry Action Plans will help us rebuild the NSW economy from the ground up," Stoner said today.
The Digital Economy taskforce is one of five industry-specific taskforces announced today, with the government selecting manufacturing, professional services, international education and research, and tourism as four other key industries set for a boost.
The deputy premier said that final industry action plans from the five taskforces are due for release next year and will:
- Outline a vision and 10-year development strategy for each industry, with immediate priorities to be addressed in 2012
- Identify drivers for, and barriers to, growth and innovation, including those caused by government practices
- Detail a program and mechanisms for government and industry to encourage sector growth, competitiveness and innovation
- Contain key performance indicators including clear timetables and benchmarks to monitor progress.
The government is set to announce more members of the Digital Economy panels shortly.