The Next Leap - View from New Zealand

30 May 2009

Johnny Ryan

Paul Alexander, the Executive Director of the Digital Development Council of New Zealand has been blogging about the IIEA's Next Leap report.

He says "the report is a thoughtful, plain English read on how to "embrace the transition" to propel productivity for economic growth". 

What is interesting is what he picks out of it, and what he views is as relevant to New Zealand as to Ireland. He summarises The Next Leap's six themes thus:

1. A Globally Competitive Generation with "Digital Instincts" -- the population now approaching adulthood have grown up fully wired and "always on", available to their friends, colleagues and bosses. They yearn for experience abroad
2. "Total Commerce" -- with the growth in user-generated content, the Internet is "undercutting established distribution channels, and negating Ireland’s geographic disadvantage", and profoundly affecting politics (eg Obama's campaign financing through almost micropayments)
3. Pervasive Internet -- infrastructure must be available everywhere, must be cheap, it must be true broadband. Ireland is in a similar position to New Zealand: a highly rural country with little cash.
4. A Global Digital Media Boom -- convergence across media and platforms (eg TV, laptops, cellphones); a growing global population of Internet users; and feasibility of free services paid for by advertising.
5. Cloud Computing "software as a service" and "software plus services" may open new opportunities for global services hubs
6. A Green Dividend -- The growing popularity and importance of renewable energies to digital sector multinationals, presents another opportunity. The paper argues that Ireland's "strong record of commitment in this area" can be an integral part of Ireland’s global brand

Interesting to see how The Next Leap is spreading. The Digital Development Council is made up of: Telecommunications Users Association (TUANZ), InternetNZ, NZ Computer Society, Women in Technology, the 2020 Communications Trust, Local Government NZ, Business NZ, Te Huarahi Tika Trust, the ICT industry (NZ ICT) and a representative of the community and voluntary sector. Its Executive Director was previously a policy advisor in the Dept of Prime Minister & Cabinet responsible for digital and IT issues, telecommunications, broadcasting, economic and industry, and science policy from 2006 to 2008. Between 2004 and 2006 Paul worked at the Ministry of Economic Development primarily as Chief Advisor in the IT and Telecommunications Team responsible for project managing the significant telecommunications reform put in place in 2006. Between 2001-2004 he was Head of International Communications Policy at the UK Government Dept of Trade & Industry (DTI) dealing with telecommunications and digital issues in fora such as the OECD and the International Telecommunications Union.

As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole responsibility of the author.