SaaB AB

Core enabler

What has become evident, certainly over the past decade and heading into the future, is that software innovation has become the “core enabler for all our products,” Stefan says, “it realises smart interacting systems and the possibility of continuous upgrades. For us, software and computing platform technologies are central since they enable the design of increasingly complex, dynamic and interconnected systems with more and more features. However, aspects such as security, safety and flexibility are often neglected or underestimated. In the aerospace and defence industry we have realised that we need to exploit the emerging technologies in order to become better and more cost-effective in developing future systems, but within the constraints of existing industry standards and practices. There is a need for technologies, methods and tools that improve our ability to design and sustain large-scale, complex, smart and evolving systems cost-effectively – with shorter lead times – while at the same time ensure, and prove to the authorities of course, system characteristics such as reliability, security and safety.”

The future is filled with complexity and risks but through collaborating in projects we can win the race.

Driver for new technologies

In this respect, although Saab commits significant funds and effort to research and development, it cannot do everything alone. To be and remain competitive on the global stage, publicly-funded research projects play a key role, “also in the understanding and use of new technologies, methods and tools as well as provide a driver for standardisation and Open Source that serve as a vital complement to Saab’s own in-house development of processes, methods and tools,” says Stefan. Looking at the membership of the ITEA Board, this is a welcome development for both parties. Stefan explains: “ITEA is very much geared to projects where the impact of applied research is the real target. At Saab our applied research addresses real needs and contributes to our efficiency and competitiveness. We view the application and execution of projects in terms of a pragmatic and simple process: the focus is on industrial impact rather than project reports. We are keen on international cross-domain research collaborations with industrial application players and tool vendors as well as with research institutes and universities – ITEA provides an excellent platform for engaging in such collaboration.” With one of the key research areas for Saab being Software Intensive Systems, which is the main enabler for the digitalisation of Saab’s products and product development environment, publicly-funded research projects can offer better methodology and tools to enabling more optimised products at lower cost. “Such projects allow us to establish new or contribute to existing open-source projects and standards enabling, for example, better tools and to share costs across multiple industry domains. Furthermore, the development of human capital and research in these projects complements our own in-house as well as national research programmes.”