Oceania

Developing Desert Directions: Rethinking the Future
Alice Springs-Australia, 3–6 November 2008

Clusters Asia-Pacific (CAP) Inc. have changed name and description to 'The Competitiveness Institute Oceania - The TCI chapter network for regional competitiveness in the Oceania region'.

Information on last month's conference by the Centre for Regional Innovation and Competitiveness (CRIC) on "Beyond clusters: current practices & future strategies", held in Ballarat, Australia, in cooperation with TCI, is now available.

Victoria, Australia's south eastern state has started a cluster for the radio frequency identification (RFID) industry. The launch of the cluster, named VIC RFID Action, was announced by the Victorian ITC Minister, Marsha Thomson earlier this month.

New Zealand's Economic Development Minister, Jim Anderton recently announced new funding to assist the New Zealand Health IT cluster to build up the capability of its companies in an effort to significantly accelerate the growth of the sector.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia, special guest Dr. Peter Brain gave a lucid and insightful overview of the importance of tacit knowledge for the success of economies at the regional level.

Australia's 2002 "Creativity Index" provides a new tool to evaluate a city's potential for economic and cluster development.

Twenty industry groupings have received approximately $US 15,000 each to engage facilitators who will work to share expertise, identify common goals, and develop shared supplier and marketing information.

A major study under the direction of Playford City Council (South Australia) is shedding light on the nature, drivers and location of food clusters.