Business backs Queensland.NET

Two major players in Queensland's software industry have thrown their weight behind a new industry cooperative and its plans to improve commercial opportunities for locals.

Technology One and Data#3 are founding members in Queensland.NET, launched last week at the Brisbane Convention Centre.

The cooperative is part of Queensland's e-Net IT cluster, formed last year by government. Queensland.NET has been established with the support of Microsoft Australia.

Like Victoria.NET, the group aims to help local industry with business development assistance and channel building.

"We provide help with marketing, business needs and how to build a channel," said Norbert Haehnel, director, Microsoft Developer and Platform Strategy.

"It's not so much about the technology," he said.

Independent software vendors (ISVs) are the main target of the cooperative, but larger players like Technology One have seen potential benefits, too.

"Bigger companies may see the possibility of forming partnerships with emerging companies," said Haehnel.

"They might say 'oh this company's got a couple of very skilled guys' or see an emerging technology."

Queensland.NET will hold monthly meetings and networking opportunities, in addition to regular communications.

"We want to focus on creating IP and exploiting research," said Haehnel.

"We do a lot of good research in this country -- we're not so good at capitalising on the commercial opportunities.

"One way we want to help local industry is to benchmark development and IP value.

"For example, say your company has five projects on .NET, what is your estimated revenue from those in 12 months?"

The Victoria.NET cluster claims that projects of its 191 member organisations value over $232 million.

The creation of Queensland.NET is the latest step towards Microsoft's Australia.NET strategy.

A Northern Territory .NET cooperative would be next, said Haehnel.

More about: Data#3, Microsoft, Technology One

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