Australian Innovation System Report 2012 Compendium of Program Updates

TASMANIA GOVERNMENT

The CSIRO’s Intelligent Sensing and Systems Laboratory and University of Tasmania’s Human Interface Technology Lab (update)

The Tasmanian Government’s Digital Futures Strategy aims to build the state’s ICT research capacity and capability. The Tasmanian Government has provided funding to CSIRO’s Intelligent Sensing and Systems Laboratory (ISSL) – previously the Tasmanian ICT Centre (TASICT Centre) and to the University of Tasmania’s Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab).

The project was jointly announced on 29 April 2011 by the Hon David O’Byrne MP, Tasmanian Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology and Senator Kim Carr, the then Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. The announcement outlined a $50 million package to commence in 2011/12. The Tasmanian Government contributed $5 million to the package. Within the ISSL, the Tasmanian Government’s focus is directed at the Sensing Tasmania (SenseT) program. The ISSL will provide sensor networking, data management and informatics support for SenseT. The Tasmanian Government has also provided funding of $450,000 to the HIT Lab for associated data visualisation of SenseT data to complement the ISSL’s work. SenseT outputs will initially be directed at Tasmanian agricultural and resource optimisation, and over time will be broadened to include wider economic, social and environmental decision-support capability for the state.

SenseT is set to drive economic, social and environmental benefits for Tasmania by providing for improved and informed decision-making on how to manage the state’s resources and the environment. The broad-scale sensor network will reinforce Tasmania’s reputation for innovation and collaboration. It will also highlight Tasmania’s strong environmental credentials.

SenseT will mesh together historical, spatial and real-time data from a state-wide sensor network and make this available to the community. While the use of sensors is not new, it is innovative to bring together different sensors into a single, large-scale sensor and knowledge management infrastructure. SenseT is one of the biggest coordinated, knowledge-infrastructure investments in Tasmania to date. It has the potential to induce a step change in innovation and productivity in the state’s economy.

Existing sensor networks can be federated into this single system, making it possible to achieve quick results. Tasmania will have ubiquitous deployment of optical fibre, wireless and satellite communications via the National Broadband Network (NBN) to achieve a cost-effective, broad-scale sensor network.

Websites for further information:

http://www.csiro.au/Organisation-Structure/Divisions/ICT-Centre/TasICTCentre.aspx

http://www.sensingtasmania.org.au/

Business Ready (new)

Business Ready is a new Tasmanian Government program which helps businesses overcome challenges to business growth. The program offers skill development and training in key areas of business development identified by small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as important to their business. The six key areas of the program are: Investment; People; Market; Energy; Digital Ready and Succession.

The delivery of the program is through online modules and, where necessary, coaching. Some elements of the program will be offered to businesses in regional areas, in particular industry sectors, while others will be offered to all businesses in Tasmania.

Training focuses on improving existing business systems (investment and people) and developing skills in new areas (energy and digital). The Digital Ready element is particularly relevant to innovation as it introduces businesses to the strengths of operating in the digital economy and the prospect of business growth from online engagement and capability uplift.

The objective of the training program is to support SMEs to acquire new skills, improve access to technology and to grow businesses through increasing employment, the number of outlets, products and, services and exports therefore contributing more to their communities and the economy.

The program is ongoing however the initial phase is for a two year period, from 1 October 2011 to 30 June 2013. Following this time the program will merge with other programs.

Website for further information:

www.development.tas.gov.au

Business Tasmania Online (new)

Business Tasmania Online is a new project under the Tasmanian Government’s Economic Development Plan. It aims to improve the business operating environment by providing innovative information and streamlined services via a whole-of-government e-business platform. The platform facilitates business interactions with all three tiers of government through a single Web 2.0 service.

Business Tasmania Online will build on the Council of Australian Government initiatives to reduce red tape and streamline the national economy through the national Australian Business Names and Business Numbers (ABN/BN) project, the national Business Online Services (BOS) project, and the national Standard Business Reporting (SBR) project. The BOS project will deliver two key services that will be accessed via Business Tasmania Online, Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) and the Australian Business Account (ABA). Bundling the delivery of the ABLIS and the ABA services with a comprehensive range of business development services and tools will make it easier for Tasmanian businesses to secure services and tools to develop the skills and confidence for business growth.

Strategically linked to the roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN), Business Tasmania Online will allow business to utilise digital technology as an effective way of conducting business.

The Business Tasmania Online project’s duration is ten years, with the first initial phase of five years running from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2016.

Website for further information:

www.development.tas.gov.au

The National Broadband Network (update)

Tasmania continues to lead Australia in access to the new digital economy through the Australian Government’s National Broadband Network (NBN) initiative. On 26 March 2012, NBN Co announced that it had awarded a $300 million contract to Visionstream Australia P/L (Visionstream) for the construction and rollout of the remaining 194 250 Tasmanian premises forming the NBN’s optical fibre footprint.

The NBN rollout is scheduled for completion in 2015, with Stage 1completed in June 2010 and Stage 2 scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2012. The Visionstream contract will complete the optical fibre implementation of the NBN in Tasmania by the end of 2015. At this time there will be optical fibre connections for just under 210 000 Tasmanian premises.

Fixed wireless broadband is scheduled for completion across Tasmania by the end of 2013, for some 50 000 premises. However, an interim satellite service is available now and two NBN Co satellites are scheduled for launch by 2015 to offer the NBN production service. Therefore Tasmania, along with the Northern Territory, will achieve 100 percent of its premises being NBN capable within three years - some six years ahead of any other state.

Website for further information:

http://nbnco.com.au/

Collaboration Agreement between the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts and the University of Tasmania’s Australian Innovation Research Centre (update)

A Collaboration Agreement has been formalised between the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts (the department) and the University of Tasmania’s Australian Innovation Research Centre (AIRC) to measure digital economy engagement by small business and the impact of improved government online services in reducing ‘red tape’ and streamlining business compliance obligations. The collaborative agreement will provide the framework for all activity between the department and the AIRC and will conclude in December 2013.

Tasmanian Government and University of Tasmania Partnership Agreement

The Partnership Agreement was updated in March 2012 focuses on collaboration on three priority areas (a) educational attainment, (b) research collaboration and (c) international education.

Cultural Tourism - Arts Tourism Strategy (update)

The Arts Tourism Strategy 2012-2015 (the Strategy) was released in May 2012 and is available online at: http://www.tourismtasmania.com.au/publications/arts

A part of the Strategy ‘smart map Tasmania’ is a searchable online database-driven map that profiles high quality, curated arts tourism products across the state. Based on responses from the circulation of over 1500 electronic surveys, Arts Tasmania’s industry development unit (arts@work) is currently evaluating the organisation’s website with a view to updating its design and launching a smart phone app.

The department is a partner organisation with the University of Tasmania, Queensland University of Technology, University of Melbourne, Glenorchy City Council, Hobart City Council and the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in an Australian Research Council funded project entitled: “Creating the Bilbao Effect: MONA and the Social and Cultural Coordinates of Urban Regeneration Through Arts Tourism”.

Tasmanian Government Approach to Collaboration

The Tasmanian Government Approach to Collaboration project was officially launched by the former Premier, David Bartlett MP, in October 2010. The current Premier, Lara Giddings MP, has also endorsed the approach.

The aim of the project is to encourage a culture of collaboration across Government and provide a framework to assist agencies to work better together on complex policy and service-delivery issues. It collates information on the drivers, benefits and costs of collaboration and identifies critical factors for success, including leadership, trust and shared aims.

Developing and launching the project was a first step in improving collaboration across government. A range of both short and longer term implementation actions have been identified. These will aid the development of collaborative relationships.

Two pilot projects, of strategic priority to the Tasmanian Government, have been selected to test and evaluate the approach. The evaluation will focus on the collaborative process and the extent to which critical factors have been successfully implemented. This will demonstrate whether collaboration is functioning effectively. It will also highlight areas for further development and improvement across government.

Website for further information:

http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/policy/collaboration_-_a_tasmanian_government_approach

Tasmanian Government Science Research Strategy – ‘Reaching Our Potential, Developing Tasmania’s Science Research Capability’

The Tasmanian Government Science Research Strategy – ‘Reaching Our Potential, Developing Tasmania’s Science Research Capability is in the final stages of development and was opened in late August for public comment. It is envisaged that it will be released towards the end of 2012 and that it will provide some key synergies of relevance to innovation and associated initiatives.

Digital Futures (update)

The next stage of the Digital Futures Strategy (DFS) runs from 2012 to 2015 and is aligned to the Tasmanian NBN roll-out. Phase II will build on progress to date and will also add a new element of investment attraction, given the certainty now attached to the NBN roll-out.

The DFS goal of the DFS is to leverage the NBN to create an innovative, sustainable and vibrant Tasmanian Digital Economy. The attached strategic drivers are:

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  leveraging the NBN based on the whole-of-state broadband access lead advantage for whole-of economy opportunities;
  
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  implementing Government 2.0 (Gov 2.0) for the government’s online services; and
  
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  incorporating ubiquitous broadband access into ‘Brand Tasmania’, to enhance the state’s liveability, clean and green, and quality produce brand attributes.
  

The specific strategic objectives are:

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  Objective 1 – increasing Tasmanian business participation in the digital economy and connectivity to the NBN.
  
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  Objective 2 – making it easier and simpler for Tasmanian businesses to transact and interact with government.
  
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  Objective 3 – improving the economic growth, productivity and environmental performance of the Tasmanian economy.
  
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  Objective 4 – leveraging the NBN to attract investment for local ICT, services and knowledge industries and for broader research across industry sectors.
  
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  Objective 5 – maximising ICT industry opportunity in the development of next-generation NBN-capable applications, services and technologies.
  

Digital Epicentre (new)

The department has developed a proposal for a Digital Epicentre, which will potentially support and grow creative industries business in Tasmania. The Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC) is undertaking an alliance-building workshop in Tasmania during August 2012 to explore the feasibility of starting a ‘Tasmanian Creative Council’. This proposed new body would represent and advocate the interests of all creative enterprises and practitioners in Tasmania and thereby help position Tasmania as Australia’s creative centre.

Community Services Hubs

The Community Services Hubs bring together a range of complementary State Government services that provide access to information, learning, government transactions, and services for children and families in a friendly and welcoming setting. However the objective is more ambitious than co-location – both the build and the governance model are intended to embed collaborative approaches to service delivery.

The Hub concept includes a Child and Family Centre (CFC), a Learning and Information Network Centre (LINC), Service Tasmania and training provided by the Polytechnic, all accessed through a common entrance with the LINC providing library, adult education and online access. A range of flexible spaces and shared facilities are open to use by all services within the Hub, as well as visiting non-government organisations. This provides a unique opportunity for collaborative work. Service Tasmania provides a concierge and booking service; actively cross-promoting Hub activities and services and pursuing opportunities to collaborate in delivering services with partner agencies.

Work is currently underway to define areas for collaborative working, including child health and wellbeing, adult literacy, and improved customer service. The approach reflects the Tasmanian Government’s objectives under the Social Inclusion Strategy - to change the way government services are delivered and to build supportive local networks and connected communities.

Two centres are currently open. The Queenstown Hub opened in October 2011 and the centre at Bridgewater Business Tasmania Online opened in early 2012.

The Bridgewater centre includes a LINC and Service Tasmania with a Commonwealth funded CFC on-site. The LINC/Service Tasmania opened in April 2012 and the CFC opened in July 2012. While this facility is not a Hub, there is an expectation that the services at this centre will also work together collaboratively.

Planning is underway for the construction of the George Town Hub.