Tech Stream

CeBIT: Innovate now

12 May 2009

I’ve spent the morning at CeBIT Australia 2009, which kicked off today in Sydney with a keynote address from Stephen Conroy, Australia’s Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. The Minister opened the trade fair by saying that technology and innovation would play a substantial part in the recovery from the current recession. Senator Conroy urged business to embrace emerging technology and invest in ways to make use of the Government’s rollout of a high speed fibre-to-the-home broadband network.  This new infrastructure will deliver not only high speed internet via fibre to every Australian home, but will provide the backbone for a new generation of digital services, many of which are being discussed and debated about this week.

The theme of recovery, cost-cutting and exploring innovative approaches to business seems to be running through the event this year. I spoke earlier to local Crikey columnist and social media evangelist Stilgherrian about his impressions of the event. He said that while last year was all about SaaS (Software as a Service) this year it’s all about the economy, which is reflected in the conference program.  Hopefully I’ll have a chance to pin him down for a thorough chat over the next couple of days.

Some speakers i managed to catch today have also argued that business should be investing now in new technology while resources are cheap, more people are willing to do deals, better people are looking for work and investing at ‘the bottom’ means you get a greater return in the long run.

The NSW Premier Nathan Rees also spoke this morning and staked a claim for his state to become the hub for the AU$43 billion National Broadband Network.  Hopefully no-one in Brisbane or Melbourne heard him.