Leading European open source software specialist - LINAGORA launches its operations in Greater Montréal

MONTRÉAL, March 20, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Just a few months after setting up in Greater Montréal, France-based LINAGORA, a publisher of open source software, is off to a roaring start after landing contracts with high-profile clients such as the City of Montréal. Alexandre Zapolsky, President and CEO and co-founder of LINAGORA, and his management team hosted an inauguration cocktail to celebrate this milestone with the partners who helped them set up their local operation.

LINAGORA, which is Europe's leading open source software company, chose Québec for its innovation support strategy, its proximity to the US market, as well as the provincial government's policy favouring the use of open source software in government departments and agencies. "Setting up in Greater Montréal is a highly strategic move for our company's development. The region offers a very favourable ecosystem for open source software, along with outstanding opportunities. I believe Québec has what it takes to repeat in the open source software field what it has managed to achieve with the video game industry," said Zapolsky.

LINAGORA plans to invest $10 million and create around 50 jobs over the next three years. "We are in the process of training the managers and engineers who will make up our Montréal unit. Thanks to our planned R&D program and the determination of all stakeholders, I am confident that the next generation of open source software will be created right here," added Zapolsky.

Montréal International, whose mission is to attract foreign direct investment, has supported the company in setting up in the region. "LINAGORA's success further bolsters the software sector in Greater Montréal and confirms our metropolis' position as a centre of high technology and a crossroads for innovation," said Dominique Anglade, President and CEO of Montréal International.

About LINAGORA (www.linagora.com)
LINAGORA has 150 employees at offices in France, Belgium, and the United States. LINAGORA publishes open source software developed in-house and offers a full line of professional services for free and open source software projects.

In recent years, the company has invested heavily in R&D to develop collaborative messaging solutions, digital safes and identity management software. The company's solutions are used by several public agencies in France – including the departments of finance, economy, domestic affairs, culture and defence – as well as the national police force and numerous local communities.

About Montréal International (www.montrealinternational.com)
Created in 1996, Montréal International (MI) is the result of a private-public partnership. Its mission is to contribute to the economic development of Greater Montréal and enhance its international status. Its mandates include attracting foreign direct investments, international organizations and international strategic workers as well as promoting the competitive and international environment of Greater Montréal. Montréal International—a non-profit organization—is funded by the private sector, the governments of Canada and Québec, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (Montréal Metropolitan Community) and the City of Montréal.

Since its creation, Montréal International has helped to attract $10.6 billion in foreign direct investments to Greater Montréal. From these investments, 52,000 jobs have been created or maintained. To date, MI's activities have also allowed almost half of some 60 international organizations to establish themselves in the city and attract and retain more than 9,000 international strategic workers.

SOURCE: Linagora Canada

Céline Clément, Communications Advisor, Montréal International, Tel.: [phone], Cell: 514-892-4030, [email protected]; Maxime Delaby, Business Development Officer, LINAGORA Canada, Tel.: [phone], Cell: 438-881-2310, [email protected]