In an effort to promote the state internationally as a location for investment opportunities, a delegation of seven Western Australian information communications technology companies has headed to Germany.
In an effort to promote the state internationally as a location for investment opportunities, a delegation of seven Western Australian information communications technology companies has headed to Germany.
The fifth annual In Unison festival in Berlin will take place from October 4-8, and is an event designed to increase WA's ties with Germany.
The seven companies attending the festival are Novita, Embedded Technologies, QRSciences, WA Go-Online, Multiskilled Solutions, SOE Soft and You Know? Innovation.
Science and Innovation Minister Francis Logan said Germany was one of WA's top 20 trading partners, and the event was a chance to increase the countries’ colla-borations and partnerships.
"Export and investment opportunities will be promoted for WA education, tourism, skilled migration, culture and the arts, ICT and biotechnology,” Mr Logan said.
The minister said he was particularly pleased that local ICT companies had decided to take part in the event, which would showcase the state's capability to potential clients, investors and business partners.
“The companies will participate in displays, networking functions, showcase events and be assisted with business introductions,” he said.
“It will be a great opportunity for them to enter or expand their business in the valuable German market.”
After the festival, the companies will attend the Intelligent Transport Systems Conference in London, which will look to provide a range of global networking and promotional opportunities.
One of the company’s to attend the Unison festival, QRSciences, earlier this month was listed as a finalist in the WA Industry and Export Awards in the Innovations Excellence Award category.
The company, which develops security and screening products, recently entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca (AZ) Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and King’s College London to develop a QR-based pharmaceutical analysis instrument.
The partnership brings together end-users and technology suppliers to develop a QR-based system for various roles within the pharma-ceutical drug discovery and manufacturing industry.
Winners for all categories of the WA Industry and Export Awards and the Premier's Award for Excellence will be announced at a dinner at the Hyatt Regency Perth on October 20.
Meanwhile, the government is looking to undertake an audit into the ICT industry in an effort to help understand the future needs of the sector.
The audit will look to ensure future state government strategies would foster the development of the ICT industry in WA.
“We have known for a long time that WA has expertise in niche areas such as spatial data processing, mining services, health systems and remote telecommunications,” said Mr Logan.
“What we are trying to achieve out of the audit is to obtain more precise information so that the government, together with industry associations, can market our strengths and increase the industry’s global competitive-ness.”
Information regarding industry structure, products or services provided, research conducted, vertical markets, export markets and growth impediments will be gathered with the aid of an online questionnaire.
The minister said all companies and research organisations within the industry would be invited to participate in the audit, which would be performed by the Department of Industry and Resources, in conjunction with the ICT Industry Collaboration Centre and the Industry Capability Network.
