Effectively an extension of the Executive Group, the Data & Intelligence Task Group (DITG) focuses on obtaining data and other research to assist the COG in being knowledgeable regarding the ICT cluster, the economic environment within which it operates and providing intelligence in order to facilitate the COG’s decision making process.
It has initiated the “Directory and Strategic Survey of the ICT Cluster” project. Some initial work has been undertaken on profiling the ICT companies in the region and summary information is now available in the form of statistical reports and charts based on this data.
The group has also identified a number of priorities to be undertaken in data & intelligence research to be generated and a means of gathering, collating and processing this information for the COG. These research priorities (in highest priority order) are currently:
- Identification of the size of the ICT cluster and sub-clusters, in regional, national and international terms
- Identification of other sources of funding beneficial to the Cluster (both direct aid to businesses together with funding for research etc to regional organisations)
- Mapping of technical expertise within the region across both public and private organisations
AND
- Mapping of skills provision across all regional HE/FE institutions.
The Task group is exploring how with limited resources it can obtain data and strategic information beneficial to the ICT cluster. Currently the TG is exploring the concept of commissioning small research projects to be undertaken by MA students. Primarily these would be to collate third party data and information in return for a small bursary. For larger projects requiring substantive work, providing the region’s HE institutions with suggested titles for MSc/MA theses.
The residual data and information will be made available via the ICT Cluster website. The TG welcomes suggestions both for research topics/projects as outlined above and copies of similar material generated through the activities of other agencies.