The Government's Action Plan for Jobs, which was launched last week, outlines the opportunities that can be exploited arising from the growth of cloud computing. These include stimulating the take up and use of cloud computing by small business, the development of the ICT enterprise sector, stimulating the emergence of start up companies providing technology services using cloud computing and, positioning the public service as a key driver in the use of cloud computing technology. The Action plan also acknowledges that challenges relating to data protection, information security, reliability of service and the availability of high speed broadband must be addressed if the benefits of cloud computing are to be fully realised.
The Cloud computing Group that I established last year will continue its work by supporting the growth and jobs potential of cloud computing and addressing the challenges outlined above. The Action Plan for Jobs identifies actions which are designed to ensure that SMEs can benefit from the opportunities offered by cloud computing including:
Supporting industry groups (e.g. Irish Internet Association) to develop and deliver a practical tool kit to assist SMEs in assessing the adoption of Cloud Computing for their business;
Examining the potential for demonstration projects in cloud computing to promote Ireland as a centre of excellence for this technology, providing a reference site for Irish companies, while potentially lowering costs and improving services;
Developing a Cloud Computing Procurement Standard with industry experts through an NSAI Standards group;
Ensuring that the ICT Skills Action Plan incorporates needs associated with the development of Cloud Computing in Ireland; and,
Delivering a Cloud Computing Technology Research Centre in order to support an industry led research and innovation agenda in this area.
With regard to the final bullet point, I can confirm that a Cloud Computing Technology Centre is being established jointly by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. After an open consultation process with industry partners, a steering committee has begun the work of developing a detailed research agenda. This agenda formed the basis for the Initial Research Programme which will be undertaken by Dublin City University, University College Cork and Athlone Institute of Technology and will formally commence in the coming weeks.
This research is particularly valuable in that, it not only includes considerations of the technical expertise and requirements to develop effective cloud computing platforms, but also incorporates the business acumen required to build new business models, end user requirements and novel ways to commercialise these platforms at the very outset of the research programme. This approach will continue to inform and drive the development of the ongoing research into this increasingly economically advantageous area. While this phase is running in 2012, an open competition will be held to establish a Host for the formal Technology Research Centre, which will allow for a significant scale up in activity over a 5 year period.