From Esecurityvic

There are many obstacles in the formation of a Victorian eSecurity cluster:

Contents 1 Environment 2 Interest 3 Structure 4 Operation

Environment

1. Need to determine the eSecurity market in Victoria / Australia from both supply and demand perspectives, including:
   • Market value, structure, trends
   • Degree of competition
   • Number of suppliers and major players
   • Opportunities
2. Need to determine the extent of diversity and commonality in the interests of potential members looking to join / start a cluster, and how these could fit together.
3. Need to examine the relevance and impact of other Australian eSecurity activity / initiatives, eg in Queensland (eSecuirtyAustralia.com, and NICTA), on Victorian aspirations

Interest

1. Need to determine the extent of interest, both in number of organisations and individual level of commitment.
2. Need to determine the extent of diversity and commonality in the interests of potential members looking to join / start a cluster, and how these fit together.
3. Need to determine the capabilities of potential members and the extent to which these are complementary and/or competitive.
4. Need to determine the individual level of commitment, which includes cash, participation, etc.
5. Need to determine what short, medium and long term objectives that potential members see for themselves and for the cluster as a whole.

Structure

1. Legals. For the group to operate effectively, the cluster needs to be a separate legal entity - particularly if there is to be a significant commercial focus. A number of current "clusters" known to government have incorporated as associations. Government plays no great role in this, as groups need to (almost by definition) have the market momentum to establish and run by themselves. This means that the State Government will only play a peripheral role in the setting up of the cluster.
2. Need to determine the options for cluster structure, management, sustainability, drawing on parallel models elsewhere as necessary

Operation

1. How to implement broad cluster objectives and measure outcomes
2. What to do about shared access to information on member capabilities and creating opportunities for collaboration to be identified
3. What to do about non-strategic information (recognising that some members will be market competitors)
4. How to implement commitment eg membership fees, in-kind resources etc)
5. What to do about the secretariat function that does not over-burden one member
6. How to leverage government programs e.g. Victorian Government Programs