Ireland bids to become Europe's leader in all things Cloud

The Government of Ireland has established a high-level, cross-government implementation group to make sure that the Cloud Computing industry gets the message: come to Ireland to set up business - and create new hi-tech jobs. Will this bold move be seen as worth copying by the Emerald Isle's Western neighbours, though?

Specifically, the new group is focused on ensuring that Ireland carves out not just a leadership role in Europe in terms of deploying Cloud technologies, but also in attracting Cloud Computing firms to set up in the republic and help the government achieve its goal of securing 8,600 new jobs from the growing market - a number plucked from a Microsoft report estimating that by 2014 the Irish Cloud industry could be worth in excess of 9.5 billion Euros, but a worthy target nonetheless.

"These jobs will not be created automatically, and government must act decisively and urgently if we are to position Ireland as a world leader in this high-growth sector," warned Richard Bruton, the nation's Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. "In May, I announced the establishment of a €5m applied research centre in Cloud Computing, which will bring industry and researchers in this sector together in order to turn good ideas into good jobs.

"However, it is also crucial that Government, as a major user of IT in the economy, take a lead in this area in order to provide opportunities and economies of scale for growing businesses in this sector, and the Programme for Government contains a commitment to implement an ambitious series of policies to achieve this. That is why I have written to Government colleagues proposing the establishment of a cross-Government implementation group to support the implementation of the Programme for Government commitment."

The new group will include representatives of all departments and agencies responsible for all aspects of Cloud computing policy: expenditure, IT procurement, security, infrastructure and industrial strategy as well as the Data Protection Commissioner, the Irish Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland "Other people will be invited to participate as appropriate, and a parallel consultation process will take place with industry representatives to ensure that their views are fully taken on board at all times," added Bruton.

He identified a number of key actions that need to be taken:

• Organising existing publicly funded and Government Agency supports into a Cloud Cluster Programme
• Closing the gaps in awareness of Cloud computing within the public and private sector
• Labour force development to close the skill gaps required in support the growth of a Cloud based industry
• Implementing a high profile public sector Cloud-based project to demonstrate leadership both in Ireland and internationally
• Rolling out a series of initiatives to promote the use of Cloud computing by small businesses and start ups in Ireland
• Ensuring the continued investment in broadband and international internet connectivity to ensure sufficient capacity exists to support the growth of the Cloud industry

Ireland has already managed to attract some major Cloud big hitters, most notably Amazon and Microsoft. Its 'Silicon Fen' strategy - with low taxes and substantial inward investment grants and allowances - had previously made Ireland an attractive port of call for hi-tech firms and the Republic clearly intends to repeat the trick in the Cloud.

To date, there are no signs of Business Secretary Vince Cable and the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills showing signs of following this lead - despite the opportunity afforded by current European Union data laws which dictate that Cloud data centres will have to be based within national borders - which some might see as a good chance to offer some enticing investment leads...