Plan Now, Prosper Later

Some of Scotland's most senior business figures have warned that the country must plan for the future or risk economic obliteration in the face of intensifying foreign competition.

"In terms of technology infrastructure Scotland is beginning to slip behind some of its competitors and the government must take a long term approach to combat this slide. We must have a national framework to guide development of a globally competitive ICT industry by nurturing local enterprises for expansion and growth abroad," said Polly Purvis, chief executive of the technology industry body ScotlandIS.

"This is not something we can leave to chance. If we find ourselves without the technical capacity we need in the future then we won't be able to compete and the consequences could be dire."

On the eve of a major debate aimed at tackling the issue, Scotland's major technology players have joined up to call for the establishment of a national digital strategy capable of delivering a 21st Century infrastructure upon which they believe the country's economic future depends.

Purvis, Microsoft Scotland director Raymond O'Hare, BT Scotland's Brendan Dick, economist Neil MacCallum, Graham Technology's Steven Thurlow, Cisco chief Gordon Thomson and digital media mogul Steve Leach have identified the country's lack of long-term planning as a critical strategic flaw.

Currently, ScotlandIS estimates there are 70,000 Scottish ICT jobs contributing £4bn a year to the economy.

"Across the globe, small countries are realising that technology represents a major opportunity, and they're prepared to invest in far-sighted strategies to create business, government and public cultures geared up to grab that chance. Scotland must either follow suit or prepare to suffer the consequences," said Leach, CEO of digital marketing specialists Bigmouthmedia.

MacCallum, head of policy and strategy at the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: "Globalisation is not going to go away. We need to improve competitiveness and efficiency on a national scale, and that will not be achievable unless the very best systems are not in place and ready to go."