SAS is not a Scandinavian airline. It`s the world`s largest privately held software company, and the sixth largest overall.

When most technology companies were shedding staff and reporting dismal sales, SAS Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia region grew revenue by 18 percent, hitting the 500 million euro mark. SAS, which invests 25 percent of its revenue – over twice the industry average – in research and development (R&D), says this is because companies more than ever demand intelligence about their customers, markets and operational productivity.