FENT INNOVATIVE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONSSL

Their core work

FENTISS is a Spanish SME specialized in safety-critical embedded software for real-time systems, particularly targeting space and high-reliability computing domains. They develop software solutions for mixed-criticality platforms — systems where tasks of different safety levels (e.g., flight control alongside diagnostics) must run on shared hardware without interfering. Their core technical work spans FPGA/SoC programming, hypervisor technology for partitioned architectures, and toolchains for generating safe and secure code for autonomous and distributed systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

FENTISS began in H2020 with foundational work on low-power mixed-criticality systems and model-based development frameworks (SAFEPOWER 2016, MegaMaRt2 2017). From 2019 onward, the focus sharpened toward dependable computing hardware platforms (De-RISC with RISC-V), autonomous distributed systems (XANDAR), and FPGA/SoC software ecosystems (HERMES). The trajectory shows a clear move from general embedded software concerns toward specific hardware-software co-design for safety-critical autonomous applications.

FENTISS is moving toward trustworthy software platforms for autonomous systems running on programmable hardware (FPGA/RISC-V), positioning them at the intersection of safety certification and next-generation processor architectures.

How they like to work

FENTISS primarily operates as a participant (4 of 5 projects) but demonstrated coordination capability by leading De-RISC, their largest funded project. With 49 unique partners across 10 countries, they maintain a broad European network rather than repeating the same consortium. This pattern suggests a technically focused SME that is sought after by different consortia for its specialized embedded software expertise.

FENTISS has collaborated with 49 distinct partners across 10 European countries, indicating wide recognition in the safety-critical computing community. Their network spans both ICT and space pillars, connecting them to aerospace, automotive, and industrial computing partners.

What sets them apart

FENTISS occupies a rare niche: an SME with deep expertise in safety-critical software for programmable hardware (FPGA, SoC, RISC-V), a domain typically dominated by large aerospace and defense contractors. Their ability to coordinate a project like De-RISC (EUR 744K funding) shows they can lead technically complex initiatives, not just contribute components. For consortium builders in space, automotive, or industrial safety, they bring specialized software skills that are hard to find in a flexible, SME-sized partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• De-RISC
  Their only coordinator role and largest single grant (EUR 744K), focused on dependable RISC-V infrastructure — demonstrating technical leadership in an emerging processor architecture.
• HERMES
  Largest participation funding (EUR 500K) targeting FPGA/SoC software ecosystem qualification, signaling their growing importance in programmable hardware platforms.
• XANDAR
  Represents their forward-looking work on trustworthy software for autonomous distributed systems, combining safety with autonomy — a high-demand intersection.