*The Integrated Newsroom - Singapore CIT Climate*

3.5 Conclusion

For a society to develop into and succeed as knowledge-based community it requires a driving force in 4 distinct areas - political, technical, economic and social (Tan, Teo and Goh 1997 p.3). For the purposes of this thesis, the emphasis has been placed specifically on technology and the Australia and Singapore IT climates. In Singapore's case, government policy has shaped the push for information technology through various schemes and enterprises. Private and government agencies such as the Singapore ONE network have been set up to develop a sound infrastructure to facilitate the innovation process and this has attracted foreign and local investors to venture into this lucrative area. In addition the National Computer Board, Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Communication & Information Technology have vigorously driven a positive social climate for change into the next generation. These factors have created a fertile incubator for CIT (Communication and Information Technology) innovation in Singapore. Australia on the other hand has not been as aggressive in both policy and funding strategies.