Organised by SQS, the international conference on software testing and quality in embedded and complex systems celebrated its 25th anniversary, bringing together professionals from different countries and industries to explore the key challenges facing quality engineering.
From 14 to 16 October, Bilbao’s Euskalduna Conference Centre hosted a very special edition of QA&TEST Embedded, the international conference organised by SQS that has brought together software testing, software quality, and verification and validation professionals working with embedded and complex systems for 25 years.
Three days of technical presentations, tutorials, discussions and knowledge sharing put artificial intelligence, automation, critical-system safety and security, and new strategies and techniques for ensuring software quality firmly in the spotlight.
But this edition was also an opportunity to celebrate something beyond technology: an international community that, for 25 years, has shared knowledge, experiences and a common goal: developing ever more reliable, safe, secure and efficient systems.
The QA&TEST Embedded 2026 technical programme reflected the transformation taking place across the software industry and the new challenges facing quality professionals.
Artificial intelligence was one of the conference’s central themes, explored from two complementary perspectives: how to use it to improve testing processes, and how to ensure the quality and reliability of AI-based systems themselves.
Sessions explored practical AI applications in test generation and execution, results analysis, intelligent-agent evaluation and testing-strategy optimisation. They also raised fundamental questions about the limitations of these technologies, the need to preserve human judgement and the responsibility of those developing and validating increasingly autonomous systems.
Test automation also featured prominently, with experiences covering testing in embedded systems, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) environments, unit testing, virtualisation and strategies for improving the efficiency of verification and validation processes.
As in previous editions, critical systems and regulated environments were another major focus, where reliability, functional safety, cybersecurity and regulatory compliance are essential. Presentations showcased approaches, tools and practical experiences from automotive, aerospace, industrial, healthcare and telecommunications sectors.
The programme also examined the evolution of quality engineering, the integration of testing activities from the earliest stages of development, quality management and the changing responsibilities of QA teams.
From Technological Innovation to Human Responsibility
The keynote presentations offered different perspectives on the present and future of software quality.
Ali Khalid of Emirates Airline discussed the need to rethink quality frameworks in the age of artificial intelligence; Joel Montvelisky of PractiTest focused on decision-making in quality; and Jitesh Gosai of the BBC explored how to embed quality into engineering teams’ everyday work.
The relationship between people and artificial intelligence was also central to Steve Watson’s presentation, which reflected on the role of testing professionals in an increasingly automated environment.
The closing keynote, delivered by Lena Pejgan Nyström and Mathias Jansson, invited participants to consider the ethical and legal boundaries of technology and the responsibility of those involved in its development and validation.
Together, the sessions reinforced a particularly important message: advances in tools and technology do not remove the need for robust quality engineering. On the contrary, they make rigorous methodologies, skilled professionals and a critical perspective on the systems we build more important than ever.
25 Years Connecting Industries, Technologies and People
Since its first edition in 2001, QA&TEST has remained true to one of its defining characteristics: bringing together professionals from different industries who, despite developing very different products and systems, face similar technological challenges.
This diversity makes it possible to discover approaches from other sectors, compare methodologies and find solutions to shared challenges involving reliability, safety, security, automation and the growing complexity of software.
The 2026 edition once again demonstrated the value of this international exchange. Tutorials, technical sessions and conversations between presentations provided opportunities to share experiences, make connections and explore new possibilities for collaboration.
And, as every year, Bilbao was part of the experience. A visit to the Guggenheim Museum, informal gatherings and the traditional conference dinner at the Sociedad Bilbaína allowed conversations to continue beyond the conference rooms and strengthened connections among participants.
This edition also offered special moments to celebrate QA&TEST’s 25-year history, recognise the contributions of those who have helped shape it and look ahead to future editions.
Among this year’s awards, Alisa Hrustic of System Verification received the Best Speaker Award in recognition of her contribution to the conference’s technical programme. Congratulations! We also want to recognise the QA&TEST Technical Committee: without its work, dedication and constant support, maintaining the programme’s technical quality would simply not be possible.
For SQS, which has organised QA&TEST since its inception, this 25th edition represents a particularly significant milestone.
The conference was created to establish an international meeting point in Bilbao for industry, technology and professionals committed to ensuring software quality, particularly in embedded systems and highly complex environments.
This mission is closely linked to the work of SQS, a company specialising in independent verification and validation (IV&V), software testing, test automation and quality assurance for critical systems.
Over the years, both industry and technology have undergone profound changes. Systems are increasingly connected, intelligent and autonomous, while demands for safety, security, reliability and efficiency continue to grow.
In this context, SQS and QA&TEST share the same vision: contributing to the development of reliable, safe and secure systems that are also cost-efficient.
QA&TEST also reflects SQS’s commitment to sharing technical knowledge, fostering collaboration among professionals and exchanging experiences that help move the industry forward.
Thank You for Making These 25 Years Possible!
Reaching the 25th edition of QA&TEST would not have been possible without the people who, year after year, have helped build this community.
You can find photos from the event here: https://n9.cl/ioy37
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