SAP to Establish Research and Development Center in Hungary

SAP AG today announced that it will launch a new research and development (R&D) center in Hungary. Opening in May 2005 with an initial staff of 50 software developers, SAP Labs Budapest is projected to expand its workforce to approximately 300 by the end of 2006. As part of SAP's global development strategy in which each location has a clear focus and mission, the tenth SAP Labs center will be encharged with advancing SAP's supply chain management (SCM) applications. Leading the efforts at SAP Labs Budapest will be Albrecht Diener, senior vice president and head of Supply Chain Development, SAP AG. Laure Le Bars will serve as the center's managing director. SAP Labs Budapest will be an integral part of SAP's global development network and its third European R&D center. In 2004, SAP invested more than one billion euros in R&D, approximately 70 percent of which in Europe. SAP Labs are created to distribute global development efforts and enable SAP to obtain the world's best IT experts and work closely with high-tech communities around the world. These centers of excellence are encharged with the mission of supporting local and global markets, developing first-class solutions, and driving innovation and competitive advantage for SAP, its customers and its partners.