JetBrains chooses Spain to install its new R&D hub and co-create software for the global market

Foreign Direct Investment

JetBrains, the technology company behind Kotlin, is opening its R&D center in Madrid, a market already among its top 10 global markets. The firm aims to attract Spanish talent to develop the tools used by more than 15 million programmers worldwide.

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The technology company JetBrainswhose products are used by more than 15 million developers and 88% of companies in the Fortune Global 100, has selected Madrid to establish its new R&D center in EuropaThis strategic move, located in the Paseo de la Castellana, consolidates España as one of the firm's top ten markets by customer volume.

The new center will function as a technology hub intended not only for commercialization, but also for the construction of technology from EspañaLocal engineers will have the opportunity to develop key products of JetBrains, implement new technical capabilities and actively collaborate with the country's startup and developer ecosystem, reinforcing a long-term commitment to the Spanish market.

Spain, a strategic market for technological talent

Bet JetBrains This comes at a time of growth for the Spanish technology sector. With over 748.000 active professionals and a digital economy that already represents 26% of the national GDP, España It offers fertile ground. However, this dynamism coexists with a structural talent gap: more than 138.000 vacancies in areas such as software development, data, cloud, and artificial intelligence remained unfilled in 2025. It is in this scenario where JetBrains identifies an opportunity to build a high-level engineering team.

The company seeks to attract the best profiles in a market that needs both talent and leaders capable of developing and retaining it. Madridwhich concentrates 85% of foreign technological investment, thus becomes the epicenter of this operation.

Data on the Technological Ecosystem in Spain (2025)

Indicator	Figure	Source
Active technology professionals	748.000	Randstad Research
Year-on-year growth of programmers	12,4 %	Randstad Research
Weight of the digital economy in GDP	26 %	AMETIC
ICT sector revenue	€138.205 million	AMETIC
Unfilled technology vacancies (2025)	> 138.000	DigitalES

Leadership with a technical and business vision

In front of JetBrains en España is Daniil Shulgin as general director. Shulgin He brings a 20-year track record in the sector, including a decade leading software transformation in T-Systems (Deutsche Telekom). His profile combines a solid foundation as an engineer with a master's degree in Computer Science and training in the RWTH Business School.

"The developer community in España It stands out for its very high level and has been using our tools for years. With this new center in Madrid"We want to offer them the opportunity to go to the other side and participate directly in the creation of the products used by millions of professionals," he says. Daniil Shulgin, CEO JetBrains en España"We're not just here to open a sales office; our real commitment is to build technology and add value to the business." Spanish innovation ecosystem».

A long-term value creation model

JetBrains It operates with a unique business model in the technology industry, maintaining sustained profitability since its founding in 2000 without relying on venture capital funding. This independence allows it to make long-term strategic decisions focused on the stability of its teams and on technical development that is not subject to external investment cycles.

For engineers joining the center of MadridThis translates into a unique opportunity: to become co-creators of the tools that define the work of the global software industry. JetBrains You're not just developing one more feature within a team of thousands. You're building the tools that the best developers in the world use. That's hard to find anywhere else, and now you can do it from [website/platform name]. España"," he adds Shulgin.

Technology and AI: the future of software development

The portfolio of JetBrainsWith over 30 products, it covers the entire professional software development lifecycle. The company is the creator of Kotlin, the official programming language of AndroidIn the field of artificial intelligence, their strategy is designed to optimize workflows at the production level, offering solutions such as JetBrains AI, an integrated assistant; Junie, an autonomous scheduling agent; and MellumIts own language model for code, available as open source. These tools provide a flexible foundation for the agentic developmentallowing organizations to not depend on a single provider.

In addition, the company is strengthening ties with the Spanish academic ecosystem through licensing programs and sponsoring university programming competitions such as Ada Byron, affiliated with the ICPCto foster young talent.

Key points and frequently asked questions about JetBrains' investment in Spain

What direct impact does the arrival of this JetBrains R&D hub have on Spanish companies?

The establishment of a development center of this caliber raises the level of the local technology ecosystem. For Spanish companies, it represents a boost to competitiveness through talent acquisition, fosters the creation of a critical mass of highly qualified professionals, and can generate synergies and collaborations that benefit the entire value chain of the national software industry.

How does this investment affect Spain's image as a hub for attracting global technological talent?

This decision reinforces the perception of España, and Madrid In particular, it serves as a strategic destination for high-value-added R&D investment. It validates the quality of Spanish engineering talent globally and acts as a magnet to attract other multinational companies and retain professionals who might otherwise seek opportunities abroad.

What type of professional profiles is JetBrains looking for and what does this mean for the Spanish labor market?

JetBrains It is primarily seeking high-level software engineering professionals to co-build its global products. For the Spanish job market, this represents a unique opportunity for developers to work on globally impactful projects without having to emigrate, contributing to the creation of products used by millions of professionals from their own country and time zone.