EURO SPI 2025: The Future of Software Process Improvement in Europe: AI, Compliance, and Culture

The 32nd European Conference on Systems, Software, and Services Process Improvement (EuroSPI 2025) in Riga once again demonstrated why this event is a central pillar for advancing software process improvement (SPI) and innovation in Europe. With over forty peer-reviewed contributions and a series of high-profile keynotes, EuroSPI 2025 addressed the most pressing challenges facing our industry: artificial intelligence (AI), regulated environments, compliance, and culture

AI in Regulated Environments

A strong theme across the proceedings was the application of AI in safety-critical and regulated contexts. Several standout contributions highlighted Europe’s leadership in this domain:

• AI in Software Testing and Engineering: From Explainable AI for SW Development and Testing to Generative AI for UI Test-Script Generation, researchers showed how AI can accelerate development while maintaining quality.

• AI in Healthcare and Medical Devices: Frameworks such as A Process Assessment Model for AI-Enabled Medical Device Software and AI Life Cycle-Related Standards for Medical Devices outlined how to embed trustworthiness and regulatory compliance into AI-enabled healthcare.

• AI in Automotive Compliance: Contributions like Advancing Risk Management Processes for Automotive Machine Learning Applications and Updated Experiences with ASPICE 4.0 for Safety Audits explored how AI integrates with standards such as ASPICE, ISO 23894, and IEC 61508, ensuring safety and reliability in the automotive sector.

• Governance and Compliance with AI: Regulatory Compliance-Aware System Change Management via an Ontology-Based Approach presented novel ways to automate compliance in system evolution.

These examples reflect how Europe is not only adopting AI but also ensuring it is aligned with strict standards and regulations—an essential step in building trustworthy AI ecosystems.

Keynote Highlight: The AI Evolution by Peter Pedross

Among the most celebrated moments of EuroSPI 2025 was the keynote by Peter Pedross, CEO of PEDCO and board member for Lean & Agile:

“The AI Evolution: Transforming Process Improvement, Compliance, and Culture in the Age of AI.”

Peter Pedross made the case that AI is pattern recognition at scale, and when applied to process improvement and compliance, it can radically change how organizations operate.

Highlights from the keynote included:

• AI in Quality Management Systems (QMS): AI-driven assistants, such as the AI Companion and PEDCO AuditPro make compliance faster, audits more automated, and training more personalized.

• Minimal Viable Compliance (MVC): Pedross introduced MVC as a pragmatic approach where compliance is not a bureaucratic hurdle but a strategic enabler.

• Three-Tiered Value Model: Integrating compliance, governance, and trust as core drivers of value, aligned with frameworks like ASQMS, ESG, ISO 37301, and the EU AI Act.

• AI Culture: Technology transforms processes, but it is culture that determines success. Pedross argued that building an “AI Culture” means balancing speed with responsibility, embedding ethics into every decision, and making prompt engineering a new professional literacy.

• Acceleration: Case studies—from Skyguide’s quarterly releases to Tesla’s daily homologation updates—illustrated how AI supports continuous compliance and agility at scale.

His closing message resonated strongly:

“AI will not replace us — but it will reshape us. If we embrace this evolution responsibly, AI will transform not only our processes and compliance, but also our culture — and the value we deliver to society.”

ASQMS in Focus: Dr. Wolfgang Wagner’s Keynote

Another highlight was the keynote by Dr. Wolfgang Wagner on the Automotive Software Quality Management System (ASQMS). As Europe moves deeper into the era of the software-defined vehicle, ASQMS is emerging as a critical framework to ensure quality and compliance across the entire supply chain—from OEMs to suppliers and beyond.

Dr. Wagner emphasized that ASQMS is not only about regulating development within automotive companies but also about extending accountability to customers, partners, and society at large. This broader perspective reflects Europe’s strong emphasis on governance, transparency, and societal responsibility in the digital age.

ASQMS was discussed in multiple sessions and is quickly becoming a central reference point for aligning AI-driven innovation with safety, sustainability, and compliance in the mobility sector.

Why EuroSPI Matters for Europe

EuroSPI is not just another conference—it is a European ecosystem for process innovation. With strategic ties to the Automotive Skills Alliance, Erasmus+ Blueprint projects (FLAMENCO, TRIREME), and the EuroSPI Academy, it acts as a knowledge and skills hub for Europe’s future workforce.

Its unique value lies in combining research and industrial practice under one umbrella. By focusing on regulated domains such as automotive, aerospace, finance, and healthcare, EuroSPI ensures that Europe remains at the forefront of safe, ethical, and innovative software engineering.

Acknowledgements

• Richard Messnarz (middle) deserves recognition for his tireless leadership in making EuroSPI a place where academia, industry, and regulators converge.

• Peter Pedross (PEDCO, Switzerland, left) and Alexander Poth (Volkswagen, Germany, right) are acknowledged for their work as co-chairs in the Lean & Agile stream, advancing approaches that demonstrate how agility and compliance can reinforce each other.

Closing Thoughts

EuroSPI 2025 reaffirmed Europe’s leadership in building an industry where AI, compliance, and culture are not contradictions but mutually reinforcing elements.

By addressing AI in regulated environments, embedding standards such as ASQMS, and fostering an AI culture, the conference has shown how Europe is defining the future of trustworthy digital transformation.

It is a great pleasure to witness the important work being done at EuroSPI—work that will continue to advance the European software industry for years to come.