The Victorian Technology Minister Gordon Rich-Phillips Government has launched the government’s new $11 million Digital Futures Fund.

 

"The Digital Futures Fund will encourage Victorian companies, researchers and end users to work together to develop ICT solutions to address major business challenges," Mr Rich-Phillip said.

 

"It gives Victorian businesses a unique opportunity to work with other businesses and organisations to create new, innovative technologies for their day-to-day operations."

 

Mr Rich-Phillips said the Digital Futures Fund provided a catalyst for Victorian businesses to increase productivity, drive growth and improve their competitiveness through collaborative projects that harness the benefits of ICT.

 

"Under the first round, we are looking to commit a total of between $4 million and $5 million to successful projects," Mr Rich-Phillips said.

 

Eligible projects will involve collaboration between at least two Victorian small to medium enterprises with fewer than 200 employees and be designed to instigate solutions to identified shared problems or challenges. Successful projects will receive funding of up to $500,000.

 

Preference will be given to applications that reflect areas of strategic importance to Victoria such as data mining and analytics, cloud computing and cyber security.

 

The DFF is a key initiative of Victoria's Technology Plan for the Future – Information and Communication Technology – an $85 million plan to promote ICT enabled innovation and support Victoria's ICT sector.

 

Expressions of interest for the Digital Futures Fund close at 2pm on Thursday 12 April 2012. For further information, including eligibility criteria and application forms visit www.mmv.vic.gov.au/dff