ENEVO Group positioned itself as a global company from the very beginning. What led to this decision and what markets are you present in at present?

The decision to focus on international markets came naturally to us due to various reasons. Firstly, we recognized that the Romanian market posed challenges such as its relatively small size and traditional nature. The energy system in Romania was designed in the 1960s and put into operation in the 1980s, with limited new constructions since then. Therefore, our vision for the first five years was to acquire quality references in order to gradually penetrate the power and automation market, which we are targeting. As a new player, building trust is crucial, and the best way to do it is through successful project execution. It was easier for us to access such projects in markets where there are abundant opportunities. Currently, we have ongoing projects in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Morocco, and in the past, we have had projects in countries like Uruguay, where we implemented automation for the back-up energy supply of a back-to-back substation for the Uruguay-Brazil interconnection. We are interested in any market where our services are in demand and our team’s safety is ensured.

Technology and innovation are key drivers for your business. What is the appetite for new technologies in the energy industry and where do you see most room for growth?

We observe a significant appetite for new technologies not only globally but also in Romania, although client approach plays a crucial role. Sometimes, requests for the “lowest price” can hinder opportunities for innovation. When we started as a company, we had two directions in mind. Firstly, we decided to be a vendor-agnostic company, meaning we did not want to specialize in the platform of a single technology maker. Instead, we aimed to understand different systems and offer the technology that best suited the needs of a particular customer, providing us with great flexibility in building solutions. Secondly, we also explored proprietary product development, which has been funded by our core business thus far. However, setting up a dedicated R&D department with a standalone budget is part of our long-term vision.

Looking ahead, we see significant opportunities in the areas of industrial IT and cybersecurity. Industrial IT differs from enterprise IT as it involves critical infrastructures that were not initially designed to work online. With technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), the possibilities for interconnection are immense. In terms of cybersecurity, new security threats have emerged worldwide, with wars shifting to exploiting vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure. This presents significant challenges, as rehabilitating the entire infrastructure is not feasible. Therefore, measures need to be put in place to counter current risks for devices that were designed long ago.

Romania has historically had a skilled workforce, but there are concerns that the international environment is luring away talent. What is your perspective on the labor market?

Unfortunately, the labor market in Romania has been impacted by factors such as lack of investment and market contraction, leading to the loss of some of our skilled workforce. One challenge is that when students finish school, they need opportunities to work on real projects to truly develop their skills. However, in Romania, the market often does not provide these opportunities, making it difficult to create specialists. Additionally, the specialists we have today are going through a natural aging process.

As a company, we recognize this issue and put a great deal of effort into developing our own workforce. We hire young talent and invest in them, knowing that it may take a few years for them to become productive in our core business. However, like any investment, there are uncertainties as to whether these individuals will stay with us in the long term. Therefore, as they advance and reach seniority levels, we make sure to reflect their progress and new skills in their compensation. It’s about building trust in their skills and loyalty, while also developing trust on their side in our company’s capabilities.

What are ENEVO Group’s objectives for the next 2-3 years?

When we first started, our objectives were to establish a good standing in the industry within the first year, become a relevant player within three years, and work towards becoming one of the most important companies in the field of power and automation based in Romania within five years. We have made significant progress towards these goals, and our focus now is to capitalize on the reputation we have built. We aim to grow our teams and diversify our markets as much as possible, with an open mind and confidence in the future.