BBJ: Lightware Zrt., a 100% Hungarian-owned company, has been developing and manufacturing products for the professional audio-visual market since 1998. What makes the firm stand out from your competitors?

Gergely Vida: Our commitment to innovation and our unique journey from humble beginnings to global impact. The company started as a small Hungarian business operating from a 29 sqm apartment in downtown Budapest, initially focused on projector and plasma TV repairs. Since then, it has transformed into a global AV leader with more than 350 employees worldwide.

Our breakthrough came in 2006 at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the most prestigious exhibition in the professional AV industry. There, Lightware introduced the world’s first 8×8 DVI matrix switcher, a groundbreaking product that replaced analog VGA technology, setting a new standard in digital video signal transmission.

We are recognized among the technology sector’s leading companies because we continuously strive to bring innovative solutions to market ahead of others. These innovations reflect our commitment to shaping the future of AV connectivity.

BBJ: What is your international footprint like? Where else in the globe are you represented, and what functions are performed overseas?

GV: In the early 2010s, the company opened its first two offices outside Hungary, in the United Kingdom and the United States. In 2013, this expansion continued in Australia, Italy, and Singapore, followed by offices in the Netherlands, India, and the United Arab Emirates two years later. Lightware now operates 18 offices across four continents, from Michigan to Singapore and from Amsterdam to Medellín, to mention a few.

These international offices are more than just sales points; they are strategic hubs that provide local support tailored to regional needs. We offer sales and technical support directly from these locations, ensuring proximity and quick response times for our partners and customers. In addition, our teams provide comprehensive pre- and post-sales support, helping clients throughout the entire customer journey – from initial consultations to ongoing maintenance and service.

Meanwhile, our headquarters in Budapest plays a central role in supporting our international operations. The HQ handles critical functions such as manufacturing, logistics, and various back-office services, including marketing, sales operations, HR, procurement, and more. This centralized support ensures consistency, efficiency, and quality across all Lightware offices worldwide.

BBJ: Tell us more about the R&D project you launched last year in Hungary.

GV: In 2024, we launched a major R&D initiative to develop a new generation of user experience-driven audio-visual, USB, and data transmission interfaces and software solutions. As part of this, we also opened an R&D center in Szeged, where we are actively hiring engineers to expand our development capabilities. This initiative marks a strategic upgrade of our Budapest development team, reflecting our long-term vision to lead innovation in the professional AV industry.

The initiative is planned as a three-year program, during which we aim to establish a stable and highly skilled R&D team of around 120-130 engineers. The Hungarian National Research, Development, and Innovation Office officially recognizes this effort, and it is supported by the government through a non-refundable cash grant, helping us accelerate innovation and strengthen our position as a global AV technology leader.

BBJ: Why did you choose Szeged? How many staff do you have there and what do they do?

GV: The idea of expanding our R&D activity to a regional city emerged in 2024, driven by Budapest’s increasingly competitive HR landscape. To explore the best options, our site selection team, supported by BDO FDI Advisory, assessed several Hungarian university cities. After evaluating factors such as the strength of the local education system, the regional R&D ecosystem, and available real estate opportunities, Szeged emerged as the ideal location. Today, our new R&D center in Szeged hosts a team of around 10 engineers. Although geographically separate, the Szeged team is fully integrated into our core development operations, working on the same advanced challenges as our Budapest colleagues.

As part of our strategic expansion, we aim to grow this to 25 engineers by the end of 2025. In support of this vision, the government has provided a non-refundable cash grant and a development tax incentive.

BBJ: Lightware moved into its new global HQ at the HOP Technology Office Park in Budapest this month. Tell us more about this.

GV: Opening our new global headquarters at the HOP Technology Office Park marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth and development. The new 7,000 sqm HQ is built with sustainability at its core. It integrates state-of-the-art technological infrastructure with eco-friendly solutions to reduce carbon footprint and promote environmental responsibility. The facility is designed for energy efficiency, featuring advanced building management systems and environmentally conscious materials to minimize energy consumption and waste.

It is more than a workspace; it is a setting that encourages social interaction and supports employee wellbeing. The facility includes multiple design kitchens and a spacious open-space café, offering areas for relaxation and informal engagement that foster team cohesion and creativity. The office includes massage chairs, comfortable seating areas, a yoga room, and a PlayStation room. These are thoughtfully designed to offer employees a place to unwind and recharge during their workday. We plan to install a rooftop solar power system to increase our renewable energy sources further, reinforcing the company’s long-term sustainability objectives.

BBJ: How easy do you find it to recruit the researchers and developers you need? Do you link up with universities to help develop the curriculum to meet your needs?

GV: We develop high-end technology solutions, which means we set a high standard for our employees regarding expertise and mindset. There are two reasons why recruitment can be challenging. First, we operate in a very specialized sector; few professionals have direct experience in this field. Second, because this expertise is so niche, we often need to train new hires internally from the ground up. Finding the right talent is a constant challenge, especially in Budapest, where competition is fierce due to the numerous international R&D centers.

Lightware was founded by members of the University of Technology and Economics, and that academic connection remains a strong part of our identity. Many of our current colleagues still come from that same college, and we maintain a close partnership with the associated university. We actively support students by offering opportunities to write their thesis projects with us, providing mentorship, real-world project experience, and access to our development environment. This collaboration helps shape the next generation of AV professionals and ensures academic training stays aligned with industry needs.

BBJ: What is next? Might you consider expanding to other university cities in Hungary?

GV: What’s next is a continued focus on shaping the future of professional AV through seamless integration and user-focused innovation. One of the most important trends we’re addressing is the evolution of product ecosystems; it’s no longer just about what you develop but how well everything works together to enhance the user experience.

A key development area is adapting USB-C technology for professional environments, especially in modern meeting rooms where speed, reliability, and simplicity are critical. These are fast-paced spaces where laptops and platforms change constantly, and any downtime can disrupt business. The expectation is clear: solutions must be reliable, intuitive, and require minimal user interaction.

Our mission is to deliver “bulletproof” integration where displays, PCs, conferencing platforms, cameras, microphones, and AV switching systems all work together flawlessly. Looking ahead, professional-grade USB-C extension will play a crucial role in unifying connectivity across devices, delivering high performance and effortless usability in demanding environments.

Expanding to other university cities in Hungary is something we might consider as part of our long-term growth strategy. However, nothing has been confirmed at this stage. We recently opened our new office in Szeged, and our current focus is on strengthening that hub, developing it further and ensuring it integrates seamlessly with our Budapest HQ. Once that foundation is solid, we’ll be in a better position to evaluate future expansion opportunities.

This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of May 5, 2025.