Interview with the Head of Aerospace, Security and Defense Department GMV-Skysoft Mr. Jose Neves

Interview with the Head of Aerospace, Security & Defense Department GMV-SKYSOFT Mr. Jose Neves “The presence of GMV in Portugal is intrinsically linked to the history of Skysoft Portugal S.A., company that joined the group GMV in May 2005…” said the Head of Aerospace, Security & Defense Department GMV-SKYSOFT Mr. Jose Neves in an exclusive interview that he gave to Epicos.

1. Could you please tell us about the place of your company in the national and international market?

The presence of GMV in Portugal is intrinsically linked to the history of Skysoft Portugal S.A., company that joined the group GMV in May 2005. Skysoft was founded in 1998 and focused on the development of projects for the aeronautics sector. However, as a result of its growth and in order to concentrate its skills in different markets, over the last decade, Skysoft successively expanded its business to the markets of Aerospace, Defense, Security, Transport, Telecommunications and Information Technology.

Skysoft became the leading Portuguese company in the Aerospace segment, being recognized as a leading reference in critical technology projects for the European Space Agency and the Galileo Supervisory Authority (GSA), as well as in areas ranging from the development of critical elements for the Satellite Navigation System Galileo, to the specification, design and integration of command and control systems for the management of Road and Maritime Infrastructures. At national level, it is also a reference in the areas of management of road infrastructures and geographic information systems.

In 2007, GMV purchases the remained capital of Skysoft. From this date, it is possible for GMV in Portugal to benefit from the synergies resulting from this integration, including economies of scale that boosts international growth and allows access to a broader portfolio of solutions and products.

The activity of GMV in Portugal is mostly focused on international markets, being recently involved in some of the major European technological projects, including Galileo Programme, the Single European Sky, CleanSky and space missions. GMV in Portugal has also had several teams working on international client projects for more than one year, including:

- Program Herschel Planck
- Alcatel, Cannes;
- Program satellite MSG1 Eumetsat;
- Draft Visual Guidance System - BAE Systems;
- Program SCOSS 2000
- GMV;C-295 Fully Integrated Tactical System
- EADS CASA


GMV has attained a leadership position in the different sectors based on an in-depth knowledge of the client’s needs, which allows the delivery of solutions specifically tailored to client/s individual requirements. GMV offers the best solution, fully adapted to the client/s requirements, including all the necessary support to achieve optimum results at a suitable price.

2. What are the next steps and the priorities of the company?

Being Innovation an intrinsic part of the GMV business, all the strategic areas incorporate the development of new products with medium and long term objectives.
Besides innovation, there are some specific goals that GMV wants to achieve, as for example:
- Be the leading company in Portugal in the field of space and development of the next generation of Roads Centers of Command and Control;
- Reach a significant proportion of the national market in the area of satellite earth observation, simulators, ground support equipment and electronic communication networks by rising the R&D;
- Keep the effort in conducting R&D in virtual tolls systems based on satellite navigation; - Participate more actively in international programs in the area of security.
- Maintain the leading position in developing technology based on the IMA (Integrated Modular Avionics)
- Improve the operations efficiency and increase the quality of service in order to preserve the leading position accomplished on the development and deployment of systems and integrated solutions based on communications and information technologies for the maritime sector.

3. What are the difficulties that the company is currently facing?

In order to stimulate our economies concerning fighting the actual international crisis, European public spending is still too focused on civil works and concrete constructions forgetting that investing in technology is the key spirit of the Lisboa Agenda and the only way to sustain European position within the global competition environment.

4. Why someone should choose the company to do business?

GMV’s competitive strategy is based on an in-depth knowledge of the client/s needs. GMV’s solutions adapt to the specific needs of the clients not only at a suitable price, but also with the quality and flexibility necessary to provide a level of service superior to the competition. GMV focus on the needs of each individual client to provide the best overall solution, which will be adapted to the client’s specific requirements and include all the support necessary to achieve optimum results. Therefore, GMV is continually adapting its products and services as part of the company commitment towards providing the maximum value to its clients through advanced technological solutions, always striving to exceed expectations.
This strategy is supported by an in-depth knowledge of the technologies at hand and by the excellence of GMV/s professional staff. The employees, operating model and cultural values at GMV are designed to ensure that every client receives exactly what it needs.
GMV goes even beyond its customers’ expressed requirements to explore their real needs, tirelessly searching for new solutions that allow GMV to come up with the right response in each case, often imaginative, sometimes unique and always honest.

5. Is there a specific country that the company is going to expand?

Portuguese speaking countries

6. What are the main advantages of the company?

GMV’s strengths include:
- Solid reputation as a provider and partner that fulfils its commitments;
- Complete customer focus; - Quality of the human resources;
- Capability for technological transfer among different markets;
- Continuous strive for excellence and quality

7. Is the company currently investing in a new technology?

Since its genesis, GMV in Portugal has been internationally positioning itself in very specific niches of the space, sea, road and aviation markets, leading the company to a high and internationally recognized innovation capacity. As an example, it should be noted that, after several years of strong investment in R&D, GMV in Portugal has become a reference in developing technology based on the IMA (Integrated Modular Avionics) technology and on the development and implementation of Road Centers of Command and Control. This reputation made the company being recognized by some of the world's largest suppliers of aviation on develop of new applications based on IMA.

8. Could you please make a comment about the international Aerospace and Defense Industry and its orientations?

We strongly believe that European Security Defence Policy (ESDP) implementation following Lisbon Treaty signature and ratification will foster collaboration across European companies and open European defence markets to a health competition.

9. Could you please make a comment about the procedure of offsets?

GMV is involved in a set of offset projects linked with the Portuguese Ministry of Defence purchase of defence equipment. At a company level, the offset procedure is seen as industrial benefit that can leverage the company capabilities in new markets or technologies. As a good example GMV is now working with EADS-CASA in the development of the FITS system for the Portuguese Air Force. This activity has enable a team of GMV engineers to be knowledgeable and capable to maintain and upgrade a complex surveillance system that will equip the Portuguese C-295 aircrafts for the next 20 year.