Romanian IT company Softwin intends to expand outside Romania, by opening labs in other countries, according to Softwin founder and chief executive Florin Talpes.
While other foreign IT companies are looking to open research centres in Romania, Softwin, the creator of the BitDefender antivirus, is thinking of opening labs in other countries, that is the area that generates the better part of its revenues, Florin Talpes, founder and chief executive of the company told ZIARUL FINANCIAR.
"We need research and development labs outside the country not necessarily in order to find tech people, because we already have such people here," Florin Talpes stated.
"There are certain business competencies, however, that you can only find in mature markets and you need them to be able to compete on those markets," Talpes added. Such a lab will require one million dollars (810,000 euros) to be invested each year, Softwin''s boss estimates.
Another reason for Softwin''s officials'' interest in opening labs abroad is the need to have technical support teams available 24 hours a day, therefore a possible location for one such lab would be on the other side of the world compared to Romania''s position, that is Asia.
Before going for such an international expansion, Softwin opened two research and development centres in Cluj and Iasi last year, to complement its hub in Bucharest.
"We may acquire software distribution companies in our expansion to other markets. In entering a market, it is more efficient to buy a company that already has a presence there," Talpes said.
Softwin''s research focuses on security, e-learning and biometrics (ID-ing people through digital methods).
At present, the better part of Softwin''s revenues comes from the Western markets.
"The Romanian market, and the regional market, that is the countries surrounding Romania have accounted for 15-30% of our revenues over the last five years," Talpes explained.
"Actually we were present on the western market first and entered the Romanian market as late as five years ago," Talpes added.
The company already has representative offices in Germany, Spain, the UK and the US, which provide sales support. Softwin plans to open new offices in Japan and in Silicon Valley in the US this year.
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