The new organisation intends to stimulate innovation and partnerships, support internationalisation, increase investment in the information and creative industries, and to work in partnership with government bodies and academia to create and retain key skills.
Already more than 500 companies, including BT, IBM, Microsoft, ntl, Real Time Engineering, Thus, Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland and Scottish Power, are members of the new organisation. As well as international companies, hundreds of Scottish-based companies such as Black Multimedia, Cedalion, Crocodile Clips, Digital Animations, KSCL, Newell & Budge, NSL (Internet), Orbital, Realise and Spektra Systems are also represented in the sector which is estimated to employ up to 70,000.
Henry McLeish, Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, said:
"The launch of ScotlandIS is a welcome development in assisting our growing software, interactive media and internet industries. Scotland has a key role to play in the knowledge revolution."
Chief Executive Frank Binnie said:
"We will provide a knowledge pool for members, a source of information on our industry, a source of business leads and opportunities, a networking forum and a showcase for our members' capabilities and talents.
"We are on the threshold of a new knowledge revolution. We want to ensure Scotland is not merely an onlooker but an active participant."