Australian Government Invests in Digital Future
The digital age is here. Tech giants like Google and IBM are developing artificial intelligence. Every month it seems, the newest gadget is unveiled that will revolutionise the way we live our lives. All of this progress is changing the way that Australians work; and new apps and technology make the work a much smaller, more connected community.
Australia's plan to maintain competitiveness in the global economy, the National Innovation and Science Agenda, received a boost of $1.1 billion aimed at adoption and implementation of cloud computing among other technologies.
The hope of this stimulus package is to cut down on inefficiency and to streamline work processes. It is one thing to have cutting edge technology, but proper implementation with Australian business practises will be what catapults it into the future.
The government says that about 4,500 startups do not get equity finance each year, and plans to rectify that by offering tax breaks to investors. Estimates are that tax offsets will encourage continued investment technology startups.
With more businesses moving to the cloud, it is important to understand how to best utilise that capability. Spending money to move to a potentially more efficient, yet mismanaged system is still wasting money.
Applications are taking an increasingly vital role in the digital world. They are being used for countless functions from administrative work to IT, and have the potential to allow departments to interact seamlessly when implemented properly.
The government wants to see Australians receiving the training to develop the skills necessary for high-wage high productivity jobs. To ensure this happens, $51 million have been set aside for coding programs, training for teachers and promotion of STEM programs. The stimulus also aims to attract entrepreneurs to Australia, offering an Entrepreneur's Visa.
It is clear that Australia is taking the necessary steps to ensure its viability in the digital age and into the future.