QNX Launches QOS 8.0 for Safety-Critical Embedded Systems

QNX has launched QNX OS for Safety (QOS) 8.0, a next-generation safety-certified solution for embedded systems. The operating system is pre-certified for major safety standards, streamlining development and certification processes for OEMs. QOS 8.0 is adopted by leading automotive manufacturers and promises enhanced support for real-time, complex embedded applications.

BlackBerry Limited's QNX division has recently unveiled QNX OS for Safety (QOS) 8.0, a next-generation safety-certified platform designed to power mission-critical embedded systems across various industries, including automotive, industrial automation, robotics, medical devices, and defense. Built on the advanced microkernel architecture of QNX Software Development Platform (SDP) 8.0, QOS 8.0 provides a robust, pre-certified foundation that embeds safety and security requirements directly into the software, enabling manufacturers to accelerate development and certification while focusing their resources on innovation and differentiation.

QOS 8.0 offers developers a powerful platform that unites safety, security, and performance. It is designed to meet the stringent safety and cybersecurity standards of today's evolving embedded systems, which are increasingly intelligent, interconnected, and software-defined. The platform is aligned with global standards such as ISO 26262 ASIL-D, IEC 61508 SIL3, IEC 62304 Class C, and ISO/SAE 21434, ensuring compliance and reducing time to market [1].

The upgraded microkernel architecture of QOS 8.0 has been engineered to maximize future silicon advancements, ensuring fast, consistent, real-time performance in demanding environments. The platform includes a fully featured hard real-time operating system, qualified C/C++ toolchains, and key safety and security artifacts designed to simplify the certification of complex embedded applications.

QNX's QOS 8.0 is already adopted by leading automotive manufacturers, including BMW, Bosch, Continental, and Mercedes-Benz, among others. The platform's ability to seamlessly integrate into safety- and security-critical systems as a foundational software component, independent of the final application context, streamlines certification and accelerates time to market.

BlackBerry's QNX business is gaining from strength in the automotive segment, particularly strong demand for its solutions across the advanced driver assistance systems market and digital cockpit domain. The rapid adoption of the QNX platform in both the Auto and General Embedded markets is a positive factor. Continued design win momentum is anticipated to further strengthen the QNX royalty backlog [2].

In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, revenues from the QNX business totaled $57.5 million, surpassing the high end of guidance ($51-$55 million). The growth was mainly driven by a 9% increase in royalties and a 23% rise in development seat license revenues. The company continued its design win momentum in the core digital cockpit and ADAS. The increasing adoption of the next-generation version of the QNX operating system, SDP 8.0, in the Auto and General Embedded market and the release of the QNX General Embedded Development Platform and QNX Hypervisor 8.0 are positive factors.

QNX's growth strategies include expanding beyond automotive into areas such as robotics, industrial automation, and medical devices, and growing its role in cars by offering built-in middleware. These new markets are large and growing, and QNX can support them with minimal changes.

References:
[1] https://www.blackberry.com/us/en/company/newsroom/press-releases/2025/qnx-launches-qnx-os-for-safety-8-0-to-accelerate-development-of-safety-and-security-critical-embedded-systems
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/blackberrys-qnx-launches-qos-8-151800791.html