Governments can play a mobilizing role in facilitating partnerships amongst
private sector businesses, public sector departments and agencies, industrial research
partners, public research players, universities and educational institutions, and
industry associations to foster e-business-readiness. Governments can also nurture
a conducive environment for the digital economy by supporting the setting up of
research centres, helping e-business ventures in key national industrial sectors, facilitating
the adoption of e-business by the SME sector, providing funding to e-business
research, and creating additional programmes for higher education in e-business.
Research institutes can be encouraged to set up e-business incubators to facilitate
the transfer of innovation to the SME sector (Jultla et al., 2002). Encouraging the
use of ICT by SMEs for various e-business and e-commerce applications depends
on reliable and adequate network infrastructure. Encouraging the rollout and use of
quality infrastructure at affordable prices can stimulate further uptake. Broadband
connectivity also accelerates the contribution of ICTs to economic growth, facilitates
innovation, and promotes efficiency, network effects and positive externalities.