Software upturn

Spending on software for technical applications is set for positive recovery by the second half of 2010, according to economic data from Cambridge-based market research group, Cambashi.

The research suggests a V-shaped recovery for technical applications software, including AEC (architecture, engineering and construction), geospatial (GIS) and manufacturing (CAD/CAM/CAE and PDM/PLM) applications.

The strongest recovery is expected in the Asia-Pacific region, with India and China expected a return to double-digit growth by the end of next year.

The US is projected to have the steepest decline and the steepest recovery, with Cambashi predicting growth of around eight per cent in technical applications.

However, the forecast appears more balanced in Western Europe with each its major economies following the same pattern of decline and recovery. Countries in Central and South America are said to be riding the downturn more evenly, largely due to economies focused towards production sectors.

Aslihan Yener, consultant at Cambashi, said: ‘Apart from Japan, the Asia-Pacific nations are proving most resilient to the economic crisis due to a lower intensity of financial services and a higher proportion of value added from production, coupled with a relatively low-cost workforce.'