Japanese Robotics Development Prioritizes Security and Safety Certification Over AI: QNX Global Survey

QNX, a business unit of BlackBerry Limited, has released a research report titled "Inside the Robot: A Survey of Robot Architecture Practices," based on a survey of 1,000 robotics engineers across seven countries, including Japan.

According to the survey, as the physical AI era approaches, robotics development in Japan shows a distinct approach prioritizing safety certification and regulatory compliance—a "safety foundation before AI" stance—which contrasts with the global trend of prioritizing AI capability enhancements. At the same time, the report highlighted challenges such as the gap between confidence in regulatory compliance and internal implementation, as well as a cautious attitude toward physical AI.

Key Survey Findings:

- The top two OS selection criteria in Japan are "Security" at 52% (global average 47%) and "Functional Safety Certification" at 45% (global 30%).
- The percentage identifying "Development Tools" as the most important software component is 60% in Japan (global 37%).
- 62% of Japanese engineers have actually experienced "development delays due to the certification acquisition process" (global 66%).
- While 78% of Japanese engineers expressed "confidence" in regulatory compliance, only 46% stated that "clear internal standards are consistently applied," indicating a 32% gap.
- Among Japanese respondents who indicated that software is becoming more important in robotics, 65% expect an increase in cybersecurity budgets (global 51%).
- Of the Japanese engineers who expect the importance of software to increase further, 65% anticipate a rise in cybersecurity-related budgets, 14 percentage points higher than the global average (51%).
- The top priority for the next 3 to 5 years in Japan is "Safety Certification/Regulatory Compliance" at 38% (ranked 2nd globally at 36%). This surpasses the global top priority of "AI Capability Improvement" (global 48%, ranked 4th in Japan at 32%), highlighting a clear difference in priorities.
- Regarding safety in physical AI, 28% in Japan felt "not at all confident" or "not very confident" (global 11%).
- Only 56% in Japan are "very optimistic" or "somewhat optimistic" about the pace of industry progress (global 81%), showing a more passive gap in this survey.

Characteristics of the Japanese Market: Development Priorities Emphasizing Safety "Safety Foundation Before AI"

Safety Certification Takes Precedence: When asked about OS selection criteria, "Security" ranked first in both Japan and globally (Japan 52%, Global 47%). Notably, in Japan, "Functional Safety Certification" ranked second at 45%, 15 points higher than the global third-place figure of 30%. The Japanese market stands out for its strong emphasis on both safety and security. Meanwhile, "Real-time Performance/Deterministic Behavior," which ranked second globally, was chosen by only 24% in Japan (ranking 6th), 10 points lower than the global 34%. However, when asked about the importance of "Real-time Performance/Deterministic Behavior," a combined 91% in Japan answered "very important" or "somewhat important" (global average 95%), reflecting the Japanese market's stance of prioritizing "Functional Safety Certification" while still acknowledging the fundamental importance of real-time performance.

Security and Safety Certification as Keys to OS Selection: When asked about the "most important software component," 60% of Japanese respondents selected "Development Tools," 23 points higher than the global 37%. In contrast, only 14% in Japan chose the "OS," 26 points lower than the global 40%. Additionally, among those considering an OS change in Japan, the primary reason cited was "concerns about security" at 39% (global 30%), the highest percentage. This focus on security and safety is also evident in the areas where software budgets for robotics development are expected to increase over the next 3 to 5 years. As future areas for budget shifts, the top choice in Japan was "Cybersecurity" (65%, global average 51%), and the third choice was "Safety Certification Software" (49%, global average 37%).

Implementing AI After Establishing Safety: When asked about their top priorities for the next 3 to 5 years, "Safety Certification/Regulatory Compliance" ranked first in Japan at 38%, while "AI Capability Improvement" ranked fourth at 32%. Globally, "AI Capability Improvement" was first at 48%, and "Safety Certification" was second at 36%, showing clearly different priorities. While placing the highest importance on "establishing a secure foundation" in Japan, a more cautious approach to AI adoption compared to the global average is evident.

Trends in Development Environments: The Gap Between "Confidence" and "Implementation"

While confidence in regulatory compliance is high, with a combined 78% answering "very confident" and "somewhat confident," there is a gap concerning whether standardized processes are actually implemented as an organization.