New Report: Australia’s “Silicon Valleys” Mapped

Image credit: CSIRO/Tech Council of Australia

For the first time, mapping of Australia’ digital technology clusters has been undertaken thanks to new research from CSIRO and the Tech Council of Australia.

The key takeaway: when it comes to tech growth, geography matters.

The report, The Geography of Australia’s Digital Industries identified 96 digital technology clusters across the country’s cities and regions, and analysed how these Silicon Valley-type concentrations of innovation and workforces can boost economic growth and productivity.

These clusters are the source of information that is key for policymakers and stakeholders working to nurture the Australian tech sector and ensure we are not left behind on the global stage.

“Firms in clusters typically grow faster, employ more, innovate more, compete better at the global scale and build wealth at the national scale,” the report stated.

“…Place-based strategies aim to attract similar knowledge-intensive enterprises to a particular location in the hope that they then build local supply chains, knowledge spillovers resulting from greater face-to-face interaction between local individuals, a skilled local workforce where individuals move between enterprises, and a strong regional brand.”

Read the full report via CSIRO.