The Australian Government's Innovation Report

Telematics
Under the Industry Cooperative Innovation Programme, the Global Innovation Centre Pty Ltd is
undertaking a scoping and innovation mapping project for the Australian telematics industry. The project
‘Defining the Australian Telematics Industry – establishing sustainable foundations for growth’ is further
defining the key steps in the telematics industry’s technology roadmap, enhancing the understanding of
telematics capabilities in Australia, and scoping out the next step for the ‘connected car’ project.
Telematics is an important player in accelerating ICT convergence in traditional markets such as the automotive
and transport sector, where wireless and location-based services are now playing a key role.
The Australian ICT industry is showing world leading capabilities in the new market of telematics.
National cluster activities have brought together these contributing sectors over the past two years with
outcomes including the AT Signature: Connected Car project. The first version of this project involved
20 contributing organisations that were able to develop a broadband in-car touch-screen enabled system
with an array of features such as real-time monitoring of traffic congestion, road side camera images, nearby
car park locations and prices and emergency features like SOS and crash detection.
The second version plans to explore further innovations such as voice actuation to prevent driver distraction
issues.
Surveys in the US and in Australia by Cebit in 2005 have indicated that over 90% of people would purchase
a vehicle with a telematics offering, provided it met their own specific needs, improved their safety and security,
and was sufficiently economical.
Photo credits: DITR
Information Technology Online Programme
The Information Technology Online (ITOL) Programme is designed to accelerate the national adoption of
e-business solutions, especially by small to medium-sized enterprises. Since 1996, the Australian Government has
allocated more than $15.4 million to 131 e-business projects across a range of industry sectors such as agriculture,
viticulture, creative media, arts and crafts, theatre, aged care services, e-health, transport and construction.
Projects have raised awareness of e-business and the importance of e-business solutions to improving productivity
and competitiveness in various industry sectors. A 2002 study conducted by Macquarie Graduate School of
Management concluded that the majority of ITOL projects have been successful in raising knowledge in diverse
regions, in businesses and in the broader community.
The programme is a catalyst for industry groups to work collaboratively to solve common problems on an
industry-wide basis. Funding is only available to consortium members involving at least three parties. The
preferred e-business solutions are open and inclusive for all participants. In 2005-06, ITOL funded a total of
17 projects to consortium groups involving 114 organisations.
Chapter 2 - Initiatives for a dynamic national innovation system 69