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MEDIA RELEASE - ACS backs Universities Australia 's calls for increased innovation

Sydney, 08 October 2015: The ACS – the professional association for Australia’s ICT sector – has congratulated Universities Australia (UA) on their bold policy statement, Keep it Clever, which calls on business and government to work closely with the university sector to drive critical research and innovation.

ACS President Brenda Aynsley OAM said the university sector’s policy blueprint, released on Wednesday, has strong support from the ACS.

“The ACS supports the university sector’s call for a significant re-think in our national approach to innovation. If we are to prosper in the information age and grasp the opportunities being created by digital disruption, we must address issues like entrepreneurship, collaborative research between business and universities, ICT skills development, lifelong learning and building an agile and flexible workforce. By addressing these issues we can help transform our industries and create and fill the jobs of the future. 

“Recent research produced by Deloitte Access Economics and commissioned by the ACS found that by 2020 Australia will need an additional 100,000 ICT professionals to support its growing digital economy. Our tertiary sector currently only produces around 3500 IT graduates annually.

“In addition, the 2013 PwC report on the startup economy found that the technology startup sector has the potential to contribute four per cent of GDP (or $109 billion) and add 540,000 jobs to the Australian economy by 2033.

“The June 2015 CEDA report also suggested a high probability that 40 per cent of Australia’s workforce - more than five million people - could be replaced by automation within the next 10 to 20 years, therefore new job creation is absolutely critical.

“If Australia is to remain a globally competitive economy with high standards of living it must address the skills shortfalls and issues identified in these reports. The policies and ideas outlined in the UA statement will go a significant way to helping achieve this,” Ms Aynsley said.

ENDS

Media contact

Louise Proctor louise@launchgroup.com.au M: 0452 574 244 | T: 02 9492 1003

About the ACS

The ACS (Australian Computer Society) is the professional association for Australia's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. Over 20,000 ACS members work in business, education, government and the community. The ACS exists to create the environment and provide the opportunities for members and partners to succeed. The ACS strives for ICT professionals to be recognised as drivers of innovation in our society, relevant across all sectors, and to promote the formulation of effective policies on ICT and related matters. Visit www.acs.org.au for more information.