QLD provides IT solution for Israel

A Queensland-based Corporate Research Centre for software company SAP has become the primary IT solutions provider for the Israeli Government.

Under the contract Queensland centre staff would collaborate with SAP Portals in Israel to develop software for SAP's global customers.

The technology and intellectual property that would be developed in Brisbane -- which could take up to 36 months -- was being shared with SAP Portals in Israel, assisting its research, development and deployment of SAP solutions all over the world.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie congratulated the centre, saying "A contract of this size is a tremendous coup for SAP and a glowing endorsement of SAP Australia's decision to choose the Smart State as the base for this Corporate Research Centre in 2001."

"I am told the Brisbane centre has quickly grown in status to become one of the major contributors to SAP's global research arm," Beattie said.

The Corporate Research Centre was collaborating with Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland, the Distributed Systems Technology and a number of Queensland small and medium businesses to develop products and build on the substantial intellectual property generated from these programs.

The Centre had also become involved in scholarship programs at the two universities.

Queensland would also host the 2004 SAP Asia-Pacific conference SAPPHIRE for about 1,300 international delegates at the beginning of June.