The story of a time when Sarajevo was the center of IT innovation.
When the name Energoinvest is mentioned, most citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the region think of gigantic projects in the energy sector, the construction of hydro and thermal power plants, and power lines around the world.
However, a little-known fact is that this Sarajevo-based company at the end of the 1980s produced its own personal computers – devices that at the time were on par, and in some aspects even ahead of United States (U.S.) competitors like IBM.
At the end of the 1980s, Energoinvest launched the IRIS PC 16, the first BiH computer fully developed without foreign licenses or technologies. According to tests at the time, this model was 60 percent faster in data processing than IBM computers of that era.
It had double the memory capacity, with the possibility of additional expansion of 20 MB. It was distinguished by a higher level of component integration, which made it more advanced and reliable.
The brilliant little one
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Sarajevo also contributed to production, with its experts developing key components and software solutions together with Energoinvest engineers.
Although the price of the IRIS was high, it found buyers and became a sought-after product in then-Yugoslavia, as well as in some countries outside it. It was a symbol of domestic ingenuity and proof that the Yugoslav industry could compete with global giants in high technology.
“The brilliant little one,” as the media called it at the time, represented a pioneering step for the domestic IT industry and demonstrated Energoinvest’s visionary spirit, which had already begun using digital data processing in its projects in the 1970s.
Vision turned into reality
Energoinvest was founded in 1951, originally as Elektroprojekt, and its founder and first director was Emerik Blum, a visionary who had the idea of creating a global company capable of designing, producing, and building energy and industrial facilities worldwide.
Under his leadership, Energoinvest operated in 105 countries; built 164 hydro and thermal power plants; constructed 60.000 km of power lines; and realized 7.300 substations.
Besides energy infrastructure, the company participated in projects from Africa and the Middle East to Asia and Latin America. Blum was known for the saying: “People are the foundation of everything… without them nothing works, not even computers,” highlighting the importance of education and personnel, which is why he initiated the founding of many technical faculties and institutes.
Energoinvest was a symbol of the power of the Yugoslav industry, and Sarajevo at that time hosted up to 40 foreign delegations annually from the worlds of politics and business.
Blum even served as mayor of Sarajevo in the early 1980s and was one of the key figures in organizing the 1984 Winter Olympics.
Decline and revival
In the 1990s, with the breakup of Yugoslavia and the war in BiH, Energoinvest suffered a severe blow. Many plants were destroyed or privatized, and the company lost a large part of its international market.
However, in recent years, Energoinvest has been returning to its former glory. The company is once again securing projects in energy and engineering, strengthening its presence in the regional and global markets, and recording stable growth.
Its name still carries great respect among partners worldwide, and its knowledge and tradition of engineering excellence remain its main strength.
Why IRIS was special
When Energoinvest started producing the IRIS computer, it was unprecedented for the industry in BiH and Yugoslavia.
At a time when computing and IT were limited to a few world leaders, Energoinvest showed that domestic engineers could create their own hardware without foreign licenses, which had enormous strategic value.
Compared to IBM, IRIS offered: faster processing speed; a more flexible memory system; and a more modern and compact design.
Although production lasted a relatively short time due to political and economic turbulence in the late 1980s and early 1990s, IRIS remained a shining example of domestic innovation.
A symbol of the past and inspiration for the future
Today, as Energoinvest strengthens and expands its operations, the story of the IRIS computer recalls a time when Sarajevo was the center of technological innovation in the region.
It shows that with knowledge, vision, and courage, it is possible to build projects that transcend local boundaries and leave a mark globally.
If Energoinvest could once produce computers that rivaled IBM, the company’s current rise gives hope that new chapters of innovation will again be written in BiH – perhaps even in high technology, just as decades ago, Biznis Info writes.
