Rakuten strengthens its technical presence in Europe with the opening of the Rakuten Tech Center Europe in Paris
Paris, April 17, 2025 - Rakuten Group, Inc. Announces the creation of the Rakuten Tech Center Europe, a new technology entity dedicated to promoting innovation, strengthening collaboration and consolidating the company's technological leadership in the European market. The center officially began operations on April 1, 2025, with a launch event held on April 16 at its offices in the heart of Paris.
A center of technological expertise at the heart of Europe
The Rakuten Tech Center Europe has established itself as a strategic hub for the region, bringing together a diverse and highly qualified team of over 50 employees. These experts work in a variety of fields, including artificial intelligence, data center management, cloud computing, platform development and IT support. The center also hosts members of the Rakuten Institute of Technology, the incubation center dedicated to AI and advanced technology research.
This center aims to support Rakuten's innovation initiatives both regionally and internationally. It occupies modern, state-of-the-art workspaces, co-located with Rakuten France teams, enabling optimal integration of innovative solutions into the company's European operations.
The management of Rakuten Tech Center Europe will be entrusted to a four-member supervisory committee: Naojiro Hisada, Executive Officer, Rakuten Group, Zoran Stejic, Head of Europe AI & Data, Fergal Downey, Fellow of Rakuten Group, and Kieran Lynch, Head of Europe Legal & Compliance. Zoran Stejic will also assume the role of President, ensuring the center's strategic direction and alignment with Rakuten's global vision for innovation.
Zoran Stejic, Head of Europe AI & Data and President of Rakuten Tech Center Europe, comments: "By establishing a center dedicated to technological excellence in the heart of Europe, we are reaffirming our commitment to advancing innovation and strengthening collaboration between our tech experts in the region. This center is designed to attract the best talent, to design and deploy innovative solutions capable of meeting the specific challenges of the European market - and beyond."
Thirteen years after the establishment of Rakuten's technology division in Europe, and with teams present in several European countries, the launch of the Rakuten Tech Center Europe marks a key milestone. It testifies to the company's ongoing commitment to investing in innovation to keep pace with the rapidly changing European technology landscape.
