Queensland govt opens ICT buying to small business

The Queensland government wants to make it easier for ICT small businesses and startups to win government work.

The government introduced the Advanced Queensland Testing within Government (TWiG) program on Tuesday, aimed at broadening government procurement opportunities.

Up to three small businesses will be chosen to address different problems within the government identified by the Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation. Each participant will receive $25,000 to support them during testing of their ICT solution over the 10- to 12-week program.

At the end of the program, the participants will present their solution to a wider group of government representatives.

The department also noted that participants will maintain control of their intellectual property.

Minister for innovation, science and the digital economy Leeanne Enoch said the program would help small businesses to quickly gain insights into the needs of the Queensland government.

"While the program will be highly competitive, it will support Queensland business to develop new ICT solutions that will provide benefits to users of government services here and can then be sold to customers globally," said Enoch.

Applications close on 19 August, with the program kicking off on 19 September. The government will also hold an information session on 9 August.

The federal government has launched its own platform to encourage small businesses to bid for ICT procurement with the reveal of the online digital marketplace.

Led by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's Digital Transformation Office, the marketplace will have a series of targeted panels of providers to encourage collaboration between the government and the tech industry.

A public beta is expected by the end of the year.