WASHINGTON Wednesday 18th June, 2003

Microsoft .NET cluster puts Victorian ICT industry at cutting edge

The creation of a new .NET cluster will ensure Victoria’s IT professionals are at the cutting edge of .NET platform development.

Speaking from Microsoft Headquarters in Redmond, Washington, Information and Communication Technology Minister, Marsha Thomson, said the Bracks Government would provide $80,000 seed funding to support the establishment of the Victoria .NET cluster – a collaboration of at least nine companies, including Microsoft, software developers and vendors.

.NET is the Microsoft framework and platform for Web Services and component software. Microsoft has announced it will at least match the Bracks Government’s financial contribution to the cluster.

“The cluster will create a critical mass of activity around the .NET platform, providing opportunities for Victorian companies to share information and benefit from each other’s experience and networks,” Ms Thomson said.

“This type of collaboration is essential for Victorian companies wanting to export their products and services and win a larger share of global business.”

Minister Thomson said funding for the Victoria .NET Cluster would be used to establish the cluster, set up a website and email capability, establish a think-tank and market Victorian .NET web service companies internationally.

“Software developed on the .NET platform is already having a major impact on business to business computing. For example, software can assist companies with different computer systems to track products across the supply chain,” she said.

“The Bracks Government has been working in close collaboration with the Microsoft Corporation in developing the cluster. With this kind of support, Victorian IT companies can be confident the cluster will create many opportunities both in Australian and overseas.”

Ms Thomson said .NET was a great example of the enabling effect of information and communication technology (ICT) across a range of industry sectors.

“The establishment of the Victoria .NET Cluster – funded under the Next Wave program – follows support for similar Victorian clusters for the computer game, photonics and microelectronics industries,” Ms Thomson said.

“The Next Wave program has provided strategic support to transform emerging industries into globally recognised clusters of excellence and will continue to explore opportunities for emerging ICT growth sectors,” she said.

Ms Thomson is in the United States to meet with a number of key US ICT companies, including Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Sun and Oracle, to promote Victoria as a destination for ICT investment.