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3.1 We believe there is a critical mismatch therefore between global trends and the current state of software in Scotland. Specifically evidenced in:
3.2 This is particularly important with regard to the bias towards services, and lack of international business and linkages. Also the “star” firms in Scotland are spread across a number of different product markets, with no natural key emerging focus and little linkage to highest growth market segments.
3.3 Additionally, mid to long term (5 years and beyond) we see that commoditisation within services, together with the emergence and dominance of large international service providers meeting the needs of national, international and global customers will deny some of the service market currently accessible to Scottish firms. Job prospects are threatened by these key weaknesses.
3.4 However on the basis of discussions with the industry we see no immediate threat to continued growth of software in Scotland for at least the next two or three years, given Year 2000 and EMU requirements.
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