The Defence sector develops some of the most demanding technological systems in terms of reliability, safety, availability and regulatory compliance. Embedded systems, connected platforms, critical software, increasingly complex architectures and the growing adoption of Artificial Intelligence are creating new challenges for the teams responsible for development, verification, validation and testing.
These challenges will be a major focus of QA&TEST Embedded 2026, the International Conference on Software Testing and Quality in Embedded and Complex Systems, which will celebrate its 25th edition on 14, 15 and 16 October in Bilbao.
This year’s programme brings together practical experience, methodologies and new approaches to quality assurance in critical and highly complex systems, covering several topics of particular relevance to the Defence sector.
Verification and testing of safety-critical systems
In systems where failures can have serious consequences, verifying software behaviour and detecting defects before deployment is essential.
QA&TEST Embedded will explore different strategies for improving the verification and testing of safety-critical systems, including test automation and new approaches aimed at increasing the reliability and robustness of complex systems.
Artificial Intelligence in critical systems
Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being incorporated both into systems themselves and into the tools used throughout their development.
However, its use in critical environments raises new questions: How can we validate the use of AI agents in the development and testing of critical software? What are their current limitations? How can qualification, traceability and compliance be addressed?
The QA&TEST Embedded 2026 programme will examine these issues from a practical perspective, with particular attention to the challenges that arise when AI is introduced into processes and systems subject to stringent safety and quality requirements.
Cybersecurity and resilience of connected systems
The increasing connectivity of embedded systems also expands their exposure to potential threats.
Testing must therefore consider not only whether a system operates as expected, but also how it behaves when faced with unexpected conditions, vulnerabilities or potential attacks.
The conference will present testing and analysis techniques aimed at improving the security and resilience of connected products and systems, an area of particular importance for critical systems and infrastructure.
Hardware-in-the-Loop and AI-assisted failure analysis
Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) environments make it possible to reproduce operating conditions and validate complex systems before they are deployed in real-world scenarios.
However, these environments can generate huge volumes of test data. One of today’s challenges is precisely how to turn this data into useful insights.
QA&TEST Embedded 2026 will also explore the use of Artificial Intelligence to analyse failures and extract insights from complex test environments, helping to identify patterns and improve the knowledge gained from testing campaigns.
Testing complex embedded and black-box systems
Full access to a system’s internal architecture, source code or individual components is not always possible.
This creates specific challenges for testing teams, particularly when working with complex systems, third-party components or black-box environments.
The conference will showcase strategies and real-world experiences for designing effective tests even when access to, or visibility into, certain internal components is limited.
Automation, test design and shift-left approaches
The earlier an issue is detected, the more its cost and impact can be reduced.
For this reason, the programme also covers automation, test design techniques and shift-left approaches, aimed at integrating quality and testing activities earlier in the development lifecycle.
The goal is not simply to run more tests, but to design strategies that enable risks to be identified earlier while making more efficient use of available resources.
Regulations, standards and compliance
In highly regulated industries, demonstrating that a system meets specific requirements can be just as important as verifying that it operates correctly.
Regulations, standards and compliance are therefore an important part of the QA&TEST Embedded 2026 programme, addressing the challenges involved in validating critical systems within increasingly demanding regulatory frameworks.
Learning from other critical industries
One of QA&TEST’s distinguishing features is its cross-industry approach.
Every year, the conference brings together professionals from aerospace, automotive, railway, industrial and other sectors where software and embedded systems perform critical functions.
This diversity enables professionals from different industries to exchange experiences and solutions. Although their products may differ, they face many of the same challenges: increasingly complex systems, stricter safety and security requirements, AI adoption, growing automation needs and compliance with industry standards.
For Defence professionals, this exchange provides an opportunity to discover methodologies, techniques and solutions developed in other critical industries and assess their potential application in highly demanding environments.
QA&TEST Embedded celebrates its 25th edition in Bilbao
QA&TEST Embedded 2026 will take place on 14, 15 and 16 October in Bilbao, bringing together international experts in testing, software quality, embedded systems and complex systems for three days of knowledge sharing and discussion.
For its 25th edition, the conference will once again provide a meeting point for professionals to exchange experiences and discuss how to address the emerging challenges transforming the verification and validation of critical systems.
Explore the full QA&TEST Embedded 2026 programme and discover all the sessions at this year’s conference.
