Mission
To research, develop and deploy e-Government technology to improve and strengthen the use of ICT in the government sector in Australia.
At a Glance
The government sector ICT industry is a broad and large economic sector. There is varied array of technologies and a multitude of Australian and international companies engaged in selling ICT products and services to all levels of government in Australia. If e-Government is defined as government's use of information technologies to exchange information and services with citizens and business, then for many large federal agencies, their core business activity is predominantly e-Government. The key opportunity for e-Government in Australia (and in developed economies throughout the world) is not simply to grow this sector, but to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the processes and systems embodying current e Government practice. NICTA, and many Australian companies, has emerging technologies that can deliver major breakthroughs in effectiveness and efficiency of government service delivery. However, the promotion, introduction, and adoption of ICT innovation into government is still a significant challenge.
The Australian e-Government Technology Cluster (“e-Government Cluster”) is an industry cluster whose members are collaborating to improve and strengthen the government sector ICT industries in Australia. The Cluster is representative of MNCs, SMEs, industry associations, Australian governments, and ICT research organisations. The Cluster provides a forum to share ideas and experiences in a non-competitive manner to the mutual benefit of all participants. Through seminars, workshops, conferences, and other events, the Cluster promotes the dissemination of e Government knowledge and encourages the establishment of new business contacts for Cluster members. NICTA’s e-Government Demonstration Laboratory, located in Canberra, provides Cluster members with an opportunity to undertake demonstration projects and showcase innovative ICT solutions for deployment in the government sector.
The Cluster is based in the ACT, and jointly sponsored by the ACT Government and NICTA. We are sharing the ITU / UN vision of international cooperation in cyberspace / e-Government and offer as part of Australia’s contribution an open door policy on collaboration across the globe.
Cluster Aims
The Cluster aims to provide the following benefits to participating organisations:
ACT Government
• Increased business opportunities for ACT-based SMEs
• Enhanced engagement with ACT Government agencies and InTACT
• Recognition of ACT as an e-Government centre of excellence
Australian, State and Territory Governments
• Increased collaboration between members of the e-Government community
• Better delivery of government services to citizens
NICTA and other ICT Research Organisations
• Increased exposure to commercialisation opportunities
• Increased collaboration with industry
• Enhanced relationships with governments
Participating Government Agencies
• Access to critical mass of e-Government capability
• Opportunity to participate in technology demonstrations in the e-Government
• Demonstration Laboratory
Participating Companies
• Increased exposure to leading research and technology development
• Opportunity to participate in collaborative projects and technology demonstrations
• Improved access to technology and business opportunities
• Expanded market opportunities
• Potential for resource exchange and joint tendering;
• Identification of skills and synergies
• Development of leads in new markets both nationally and globally
• Partnering opportunities
Benefits
C o n n e c t Australia’s e-Government community – researchers, suppliers and users.P r o m o t e e-Government industry and research capability.
I d e n t i f y e-Government business opportunities for MNCs and SMEs.
F o s t e r advances in research, technology development, and best practice in e-Government.
U n d e r t a k e commercially relevant projects directed at achieving national and global impact.
F a c i l i t a t e professional development and access to experts.
A d v o c a t e e-Government development in Australia with respect to government and media etc.
G l o b a l unrestricted by boarders – global impact with local partnerships
Cluster Projects
NICTA’s e-Government Demonstration Laboratory, located in Canberra, provides Cluster members with an opportunity to undertake collaborative projects and showcase innovative ICT solutions for deployment in the government sector.
The portfolio of Cluster projects and technology demonstrators will change over time in accordance with the governance processes of the cluster. Given the diversity of both emerging and mature technologies deployed in the government sector, the demonstration projects and technologies shall be grouped into a small number of topical areas, for example:
• e-security, authentication, and identity management
• e-Democracy, Web 2.0 and social networking technologies
• Whole of government enterprise architectures and reference models for interoperation
• Green ICT, server virtualisation, and cloud computing
The Cluster provides a collaborative forum for major international companies, government agencies, innovative ACT companies and other research organisations, to define, develop and demonstrate novel e-Government solutions.
NICTA has a strong track record in e-Government research (see NICTA eGovernment) and has been working for some time with a number of government agencies including the Australian Tax Office, the Department of Health and Ageing and the Australian Research Council.
Cluster Events
Please see NICTA Events Calendar
http://nicta.com.au/nicta_events/events
Contacts
For more information about the Australian eGovernment Technology Cluster please contact: