Earthworks begin at Commonwealth Technology Port

A venture between technology corporations, educational institutions, universities and research organisations has started earthworks and marketing to raise community and industry awareness.

The Commonwealth Technology Port, backed by $22.5 million from the Commonwealth government, will be a hub within Melbourne's Docklands precinct for education, collaboration and interaction between smaller technology organisations and larger established companies, according to the Minister for Communications, IT and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston. "With its aim to foster interaction between parties and create a commercially viable environment for knowledge-intensive industries, the CTP will be a major step towards gaining international recognition for Melbourne as a "˜high tech world city'," Senator Alston said. The project has attracted strategic partners including Cisco, Telstra and Microsoft, and is aimed at bringing an end to Australia's "˜brain drain' by encouraging Australian engineers to research and develop innovative technologies in Australia rather than going overseas.