The announcement is also part of the state's four-year A$18.5 million industry development strategy, dubbed, "Smart ICT: Taking IT to the World." This strategy includes encouraging other industries to adopt ICT solutions.

"If we want to ensure a strong and healthy ICT sector we need to act now to make sure the industry will have the skilled workers it will need to continue to grow," Cummins said.

While these initiatives are for Queensland businesses only, Cummins acknowledged the skills shortage is a national issue and said the summit should help develop nation-wide solutions.

For more information on the National ICT Skills Summit, see www.iib.qld.gov.au/skillssummit.