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Smes Can Access Free Ict Assistance Through New Network The Minister for Science, Peter McGauran, today launched the Technology Diffusion Gateway Network Project. By Monash Regional Centre for ICT - 30th June 2003 - Back to News The Minister for Science, Peter McGauran, today launched the Technology Diffusion Gateway Network Project which provides free practical assistance in information and communication technologies to regional SMEs to solve business problems and improve efficiency.
The Gateway Network was established with the help of a Commonwealth Government grant of $439,315 under the Innovation Access Program – Industry, administered through its business unit, AusIndustry.
The project is based at the Monash University campus in Churchill in Victoria and is an initiative of the university, through the Monash Regional Centre for Information & Communications Technology.
Launching the Gateway Network, on behalf of Industry Minster Ian McFarlane, Mr McGauran said it helped firms achieve the best benefit from the technologies they currently used.
"The Gateway Network will identify the best available technologies that the company should be using, or it can help them to develop new technologies," Mr McGauran said.
"One of the important benefits of the Gateway Network is that it offer solutions to sustainable industry development and job creation specifically targeting small to medium businesses, particularly those in regional Australia.
"Many businesses in regional Australia do not have access to, or know how to access new and emerging technologies and projects. This project will solve that problem for them.
"And the great thing about this service is that is offered free to firms."
The service is being piloted in Gippsland, and if successful, the model will be transplanted to a series of nodes based at regional universities, so that it is ultimately available throughout Australia.
Since it started in December last year, the service has audited over 20 companies, 12 feasibility studies have commenced, with 3 already completed, and 1 implementation plan has commenced..
The project aims to complete 40 feasibility studies and 6 implementation plans in the Gippsland pilot project.
Mr McGauran said the Innovation Access Program - Industry is designed to foster innovation and competitiveness by increasing the take up of new technologies and best practice processes by Australian industry, particularly SMEs.
The funding for the project is part of the $3 billion innovation statement, Backing Australia’s Ability, which underscores the Government’s commitment to improving Australian business innovation.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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