NSW seeks feedback on Digital Economy plan

The NSW Government has called for public submissions on smart networks, robotics, security and data management as it develops a ten-year ‘industry action plan’ (IAP). 

The Digital Economy plan is one of five IAPs the government announced in September in an effort to set innovation and productivity targets for the state until 2021.

It incorporates ICT and creative industries, expected to account for 4.9 percent and 4 percent of the NSW economy by 2020.

Last month, the state invited the public to participate in an online forum to suggest ideas, opportunities, roadblocks and any other issues they faced in the state’s digital industry.

The ‘Have Your Say’ forum closes on November 18. So far, topics have attracted only about 250 views and between two to six comments.

Participants have called for more support for entrepreneurs through events and tax structures.

Following the online forum, a Government-appointed taskforce chaired by IBM Research director Glen Wightwick will collect formal submissions from the public about the IAP until 25 November.

The taskforce plans to conduct initial feedback sessions between March and April 2012 to discuss key issues from the submissions and forum.

A formal IAP is likely to come into force by the third quarter of next year – about 12 months after the initiative was announced.