-- Design highly innovative software components that will be integrated
by other engineering groups in new generation software, within the fast-
growing categories of mobility, networking, utilities and security; as
always, the final objective is to bring more innovative and effective
software solutions to companies worldwide.
-- Develop web code and content based on cutting-edge technologies such
as Flex or Silverlight, to support and increase online sales in synergy
with the other distribution channels.
-- Implement the highly innovative online "Community Project" to both
strengthen Avanquest's relationship with its customers and offer a brand
new range of high value-added services to software companies and start-ups.
"Our Group is international and multicultural in scope," explained Roger
Politis, co-founder of Avanquest Software and Managing Director in charge
of the Group's Research & Development. "For more than twenty years, Bruno
Vanryb and I have focused our priorities on innovation. The objective was
to expand our software development capacities on a continent and in a
country that is economically competitive and geographically close to our
main economic centres in Europe and the United States. Montréal
International, an organization dedicated to the economic promotion and
development of Greater Montréal, supported us in this project and showed us
the benefit of a facility in Québec's largest city with a large, highly
skilled bilingual population, strong cultural ties with the United States
and France, and competitive wages which were all key determining factors in
making our decision."
The Group's objective is to reach a workforce in Montréal of about 100
engineers within three years, with the recruitment of 15 employees by the
end of this year, 50 by the end of 2009, and 100 by the end of the third
year. Carl de Billy, who joined Avanquest Software in September, will be in
charge of the new R&D center.
About Avanquest Software
Avanquest Software is one of the world's leading software publishers,
marketing its software titles developed in-house or by developer partners
via multiple sales channels on three continents - North America, Europe and
Asia. Avanquest Software addresses the general public through its Retail,
Online and Direct-to-Consumer channels; businesses through the Corporate
channel; and key players in mobile telephony and IT through OEM (Original
Equipment Manufacturers) licenses. With 600 employees and approximately 180
engineers in Research and Development distributed between France, China and
the United States, the company is committed to constant innovation.
Avanquest Software is listed on Euronext (ISIN FR0004026714) since
December 1996. Additional information is available at
http://www.avanquest.com or http://about.avenquest.com.
About Montréal International
Montréal International was created in 1996 as a result of a private/public
partnership. Its mission is to contribute to the economic development of
Greater Montréal and to enhance its international status. Its mandates
include attracting foreign investment, international organizations and
strategic workers, and supporting the development of innovation and high-
technology clusters in the metropolitan region. Montréal International is
financed by the private sector, the Montréal Metropolitan Community, the
City of Montréal and the governments of Canada and Québec. Since 2000,
Montréal International has been involved in 422 direct foreign investment
projects totalling $6.3 billion. These investments have helped create over
31,500 jobs and maintain more than 5,500. For more information, please have
a look at www.montrealinternational.com.
Contact Information: Your contacts Tuba Kocaefe Press Relations for Avanquest Software E-mail: tkocaefe@avanquest.com Tel.: +33 (0)1 41 27 19 96 Christine Sauvaget Communications & Press Relations E-mail: csauvaget@avanquest.com Tel.: +33 (0)1 41 27 19 82 Louis Arseneault Communications & Press Relations Montréal International E-mail: louis.arseneault@Montréalinternational.com Tel. : + 1 514 987 9376