WITTENSTEIN high integrity systems Ltd.
Certification-Ready Software for a Changing Embedded World

Andrew Longhurst, Managing Director

WITTENSTEIN high integrity systems Ltd. has built its expertise around solving this challenge. The company’s SAFERTOS® provides a safety-certified real-time operating system designed to reduce certification complexity by combining reliable software with the engineering evidence, traceability and assurance required for regulated industries.

Foundation for Safety-Critical Systems

Within the semiconductor ecosystem, SAFERTOS® serves as a foundational software layer between processor hardware and application software. When engineers select their embedded development environment, the processor, RTOS and compiler are among the decisions they make. WITTENSTEIN high integrity systems positions SAFERTOS® as the operating environment that enables developers to build applications while simplifying the certification journey.

The company works closely with semiconductor partners to support processor launches and ensure SAFERTOS® is available across hardware platforms. Its architecture separates the operating system into a core layer and a portable layer, allowing the majority of functionality to remain consistent while adapting the smaller hardware-specific portion for chips.

For safety-critical developers, the value of SAFERTOS® extends beyond the operating system itself. The company provides design assurance documentation, integration guidance, verification evidence and certification support that help customers demonstrate compliance with industry standards to auditors. Andrew Longhurst, managing director explains, “What our customers are really buying is an easy route to certification. They are getting a highly reliable RTOS, a full design assurance pack with all the certification evidence, and an easier route to certifying SAFERTOS® within their product.”

This approach is built on rigorous engineering practices. SAFERTOS® was developed using systems-based engineering principles, transforming a functional model into a safety-focused platform through hazard analysis, defined requirements and extensive verification. The company validates each implementation against customer-specific processors, compilers and configurations, achieving traceability and comprehensive testing coverage.

Supporting Multiple Industries

Safety and security requirements continue to expand across automotive, aerospace, medical and industrial markets. WITTENSTEIN high integrity systems addresses these needs through a quality framework designed to support multiple standards, allowing engineers to develop a robust platform that can be adapted for certification environments.

The company also provides technical and safety support throughout customer engagements, including onboarding assistance, training and access to development artifacts. By providing source code and verification materials, WITTENSTEIN high integrity systems enables customers to maintain transparency and confidence throughout the product lifecycle.

Preparing for Future Embedded Challenges

As AI, software-defined products and autonomous systems reshape embedded technology, safety remains a concern. WITTENSTEIN high integrity systems sees its role as enabling customers to use advanced capabilities while maintaining controlled and dependable operation. SAFERTOS® can support architectures where safety functions remain isolated from higher-level computing workloads, helping developers introduce innovation without compromising assurance.

Long-term reliability is also central to the company’s strategy. As products such as aircraft and vehicles require decades of operational life, customers seek technology partners with stability and proven expertise. Longhurst notes, “People are designing planes which could last 70 years and cars which could have a lifetime of 30 years. They are looking for RTOS companies that are stable and will be there.”

Through SAFERTOS®, certification expertise and ecosystem partnerships, WITTENSTEIN high integrity systems demonstrates that safety is not simply a compliance obligation. It is an engineering capability that enables the next generation of embedded innovation.