Riding a hi-tech wave of success

TECHNOLOGY developments such as Tassal’s remote feeding centre are fuelling a huge demand for Tasmanian ICT specialists.

Phil Pyke, chief executive of industry body TasICT, which represents Intuit Technologies, a partner in the Tassal project, said 6700 workers were already employed in the industry across the state, but that number was expected to rise rapidly in the future.

“It’s really great to see Tassie leading the charge in aquaculture with Tassal, and some of the other companies are looking at very similar models,” he said.

“The innovation is taking place all over the state, and here we have a great example of what happens when Tasmanian minds come together.”

Mr Pyke said the ICT (information and communications technologies) sector wasn’t seen as an economic driver for Tasmania because it wasn’t a “physical commodity”, but it already contributed $1.4 billion to the state’s economy.

“This technology is world-leading, and the fact it has been developed here in Tasmania means there would be other countries looking and potentially replicating it,” he said.

“Commercialising it for other areas of the world brings back export dollars to Tasmania.”

Mr Pyke said Tasmanian firm Echoview was a great example, exporting its world-first software to assess fish populations to more than 60 countries.

He said Tasmania needed a “digital state strategy” to help raise awareness of ICT career options, and where registered training organisations could partner with businesses to provide industryspecific education.

“It’s bigger than just gaming,’’ Mr Pyke said. “This is a huge sector where we’re going to need people.”

Tassal chief information officer Matt Leary said the company wasn’t yet involved in training students, but as its technology capability expanded there would be a need for more professionals.

“From an aquaculture perspective, I think there’s a real opportunity for Tasmanians to combine the two industries … to be world-leading,” he said.