In collaboration with its members, IISEIE seeks to create software business and collaboration best practice via applied and market based research projects carried out across the various country based chapters and stakeholder groups of IISEIE.

Together with our research based members, IISEIE provides continuous improvement tools such as macro-environmental benchmarking, key performance indicators and continuous improvement frameworks for software companies and local software economies.

Technology production and use leads to economic growth

A 2005 OECD Economic Survey concluded that “The key element to achieving sustained rises in real incomes (within a nation) is productivity growth.” While improvements could be made in the areas of product market competition, business taxation, infrastructure provision, labor markets, innovation and human capital formation, one area which has been shown to increase aggregate productivity in an economy is the existence of an Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) producing sector, and the widespread use of ICT by other industries or the ICT-using sectors.

This is driven by the evidence (both empirical and anecdotal) that increased ‘production’ of ICTs contributes to output, employment, and export earnings, while ICT ‘use’ increases productivity, competitiveness, and growth...more.

Software Clusters and Centers of Innovation

This spill over from in country, or close neighbor, ICT producing sectors is an important consideration as it stresses the importance of local software economies and regional centers of ICT production and innovation that may facilitate ICT use and innovation across many countries.

This brings into play the central role of industrial districts or ‘clusters’ that not only provide inter-territory relationships, but have the advantage of being able to multiply the frequency and opportunities of experience by linking different locations, firms (both users and producers) and cultures...more.

In addition, the continued success of industrial clusters is closely coupled with emerging technologies, start-up firms and the presence of cutting-edge research facilities and top educational institutions that provide a basis for innovation. These processes typically reside inside an institutional or industry based 'Innovation Center'...more.

Centers of innovation contribute to economic growth

To increase economic growth in a country requires:

• Demand - Increase use of ICT by industries
• Capability - Increase production of ICT
• Collaboration - That brings together the ICT using and producing sectors together inside industries i.e. finance, health, textiles, and allows local ICT firms to internationalise via multi-national corporations (MNCs)
• Innovation - The presence of an ICT innovation cluster in a country, or in a close neighboring country.

Typically these elements work together in a local software economy (LSE), or cluster of activity, that produces economic benefit...more.

Software Companies

A key process that underpins the production and use of ICT in a country is the creation and establishment of ‘new innovations’ either via technology invention or adoption. These innovations can then be adapted to suit particular industries or customer needs in the local economy (domestic earnings), and in international ICT-using sectors (export earnings).

The focal point for this innovation process is the commercial software company. As such, the success of these software companies and their entrepreneurs are vital for economic growth and long success in an increasingly globalised world...more.

IISEIE focuses on the software component of the ICT industry across these four areas and seeks to deepen the 'body of knowledge' on the software industry and its economic impact.

In addition, IISEIE works with its various member communities to apply this knowledge to create and grow vibrant local software economies for their wider economies and communities...more.