ICT and Electronics
Adelaide, South Australia is Australia's least costly place to set up and do business, and has been rated as the most cost-competitive city in Australia for software and web/multimedia development.1
ICT activities centre on:
- software
- ICT services
- hardware/electronics
- creative industries
- telecommunications
South Australian ICT businesses provide innovative products and services to global customers.
These range from enterprise and industrial systems, business intelligence and financial services through to health, education, mining, defence, mobile and satellite telecommunications, transport, internet and web 2.0 services and entertainment.
South Australia has a strong electronics sector specialising in the design and manufacture of sophisticated defence, communication and instrumentation systems, sensors and medical devices.
South Australia’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector is forecast to achieve strong growth rates on the back of the State's resources and defence industry expansion over the next five years, making it an exciting investment location.
Key multinationals that have set up software development centres in Adelaide include BAE Systems, Saab Systems, EDS, Fujitsu, Expand Networks and Quantum.
Major Australian companies with development teams in Adelaide include DWS and Krome Studios.
Adelaide-based M.Net Corporation works with national and global organisations to develop new mobile internet services.
South Australian ICT companies have a history of winning awards for innovation and fast growth. In 2008 three companies won major awards. YourAmigo, an internet search optimisation company with major clients in the US, UK and Japan, won the Premier's Exporter of the Year Award, Australian Semiconductor Technology Company, a semiconductor design company servicing global suppliers, captured the Fastest Mover Award in South Australia, and young start-up Neuro Vision Technology, which has developed unique assessment and training for people with neurological vision impairment, won the Hottest Technology Award at the ANZA Gateway to the US Summit in Silicon Valley.
Adelaide - a telecommunications hub
Adelaide is an innovative telecommunications hub. Next generation high-speed broadband internet is available throughout the city.
Adelaide was one of the first cities to offer free wireless broadband access, called Citylan, which now covers large areas of central Adelaide on a par with cities like San Francisco and Chicago.
Construction of SABRENet, an 80 km-long ultra high-speed optic cable, was completed in 2007 and now links all universities, research institutes and major hospitals. The South Australian Government has appointed SABRENet Ltd to extend its broadband network to Australia’s premier naval industry precinct, Techport Australia. www.sabrenet.edu.au
Broadband is also available throughout much of regional South Australia.
Adelaide is home to some of Australia's leading critical application outsourcing providers with their own secure infrastructure, including Hostworks and Internode.
Digital media companies have access to Cine.net - a super-fast broadband communication network.
In support of the growing creative industries sector, the South Australian Government provides financial incentives through the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) to companies developing new creative content, including digital films, mobile content, animation and games.
Filmmakers shooting in South Australia are also eligible for location incentives, while also having direct access to the renowned SAFC for ongoing support.
Output
- ICT businesses generated total revenue of $4.3 billion in 2006-07.2
Exports
- $931 million in ICT and electronics export revenue in 2006-07.2
- Key export markets for ICT are the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand and China.2
Employment
- 21,500 people employed in ICT and electronics in June 2005.2
Number of businesses
- 1,200 ICT and electronic businesses in June 2005.2
Research and development
- Four universities (Adelaide, Flinders, Uni SA and Carnegie Mellon) provide undergraduate and post-graduate computer engineering and associated IT management degrees.
- Three universities (Adelaide, Flinders and Uni SA) have strong co-ordinated research programs.
- Construction completed on SABRENet – an 80-kilometre, ultra high-speed optic cable linking all universities, research institutes and major hospitals.
Geographic focus
- Most ICT and electronics businesses are located in Adelaide.
Case studies
EDS
MGM Wireless
Rising Sun Pictures
Rocket Reader
Industry groups
Australian Industry Group
Australian Information Industry Association
Australian Interactive Media Industry Association
Australian Telecommunications Users Group
Electronics and ICT Industry Association
Game Developers Association of Australia
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