The Regional Australia Institute points out that connectivity by itself is not enough to ensure regional businesses make the most of the digital economy. In a recent blog, the Institute highlights the importance of knowledge to harness and grow with it, or risk wasting the opportunities.
Narrogin in the WA Wheatbelt is given as an example. It ranks 156 out of 560 areas in terms of internet connections. While this is a ‘highly competitive’ result, Narrogin has one of the lowest presences of an ICT or electronics workforce in the country. Digital strategies need to take a holistic view of the factors that enable ICT to fulfil its potential as an innovation driver.
