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Creative industries cluster study

A study has been conducted in respect of industries that produce digital content and applications.

Overview

Dynamic clusters have the potential to improve the efficiency and international competitiveness of these industries. Creative industries producing digital content and applications are of increasing importance due to their ability to contribute to economic growth and social development. They are providing innovative new services and products, and developing new ways for people to interact with information systems and new technologies. These industries are also expected to increasingly impact on other sectors of the economy in cross service and cross product innovation.

The study is being conducted in a number of stages. The first stage of the study culminated in a report that was released in May 2002. This stage provide preliminary analysis and mapping of the industries producing digital content and applications. The second stage of the study has recently been completed. Its objective was to gain a detailed analysis, at the level of the firm, and in the context of industry clustering, of the current production and commercial arrangements related to digital content and applications. The third stage of the Study has commenced with a range of projects investigating avenues for further developing Australian creative industries.

Projects

Stage 1

The first stage of the study culminated in a report that was released in May 2002. This stage provide preliminary analysis and mapping of the industries producing digital content and applications. The report identifies the key enterprises, their location and the productivity drivers and barriers. It also finds that cluster approaches potentially offer a means of addressing barriers and market failures in digital content and applications industries. The clusters have the potential to improve the efficiency and international competitiveness of these industries. For more information on Stage 1, see the media release or view the Creative industries cluster study stage one report (File size: 405Kb).

Stage 2

The second stage of the study was completed in late 2002. Its objective was to gain a detailed analysis, at the level of the firm, and in the context of industry clustering, of the current production and commercial arrangements related to digital content and applications as they exist in a number of key sub-sectors of the digital content and applications industry. Four key sub-sectors were analysed; interactive games, interactive multimedia, advertising and educational content. A summary of the report is available. An edited version of the Stage 2 report with commercial-in-confidence material removed is available to view Producing digital content (File size: 984Kb).

Stage 3

The third stage of the Study commenced in 2003 with a range of projects investigating avenues for further developing Australian creative industries. Some of these projects include work deriving statistical indicators, investigating the role of the Commonwealth as a market participant, investigating the emergence of standards, interoperability and related frameworks, investigate online and broadband distribution models, and research innovation systems to overcome the industry's fragmented nature. More information on the components of this stage of the project is available here. The following reports from this stage of the study are now available:

Economic Benefits from Cultural Assets (File size: 2.3Mb) - digitisation programs and standards of collecting institutions and the scope for collaboration with the creative industries (Xamax, Content Strategies)
The Measurement of Creative Digital Content(File size: 90Kb) (Pattinson Consulting)
The Role of Government Agencies as Market Place Participants in Digital Content Markets (File format: 630Kb) (Convergent Consulting)
Research and Innovation Systems in the Production of Digital Content and Applications (File format: 508Kb) (QUT CIRAC, Cutler and Co)
Implications of the Emergence of Broadband Distribution Mediums for the Production of Digital Content and Applications (File size: 400Kb) (Convergent Consulting)
Report on Access to Global Markets (File size: 2.6Mb) - From Cottages to Corporations: Building a Global Industry from Australian Creativity (Peter Higgs and Tom Kennedy)