What’s New @ PICMG?

• New standard boosts performance, design flexibility, efficiency, and ecosystem expansion 

Wakefield, Mass. – March 10, 2026 – PICMG, a leading consortium for modular open standards in embedded computing, today released the COM-HPC® revision 1.3 specification. The 1.3 revision further advances the high-performance Computer-on-Module (COM) standard to address evolving requirements in edge computing, industrial automation, medical technology, and high-performance applications.  

The new enhancements position COM-HPC as a future-ready standard for memory-centric and accelerator-based architectures, advancing new designs in embedded computing technology. 

Technical Advancements for High-Performance Embedded Computing 

• Support for PCI Express Gen 6 and CXL: A key enhancement of revision 1.3 is support for PCI Express (PCIe) Gen 6, including additional signal budget definitions to meet increasing demands for data throughput and signal integrity. The specification also adds support for Compute Express Link (CXL), enabling high-bandwidth, coherent connectivity for memory and accelerator resources over the PCIe interface. 

• Ecosystem Expansion: Mechanical updates further strengthen the ecosystem. New connector options — including non-BGA column-type variants — as well as additional approved connector suppliers such as Samtec, Amphenol, Hirose, and All Best, enhance supply chain flexibility and availability. 

• Expanded Functionality: The revision adds support for C-PHY on MIPI-CSI, particularly relevant for camera and vision applications. An additional clock input supports the connection of 2×2 camera configurations for D-PHY. 

• Improved Energy Efficiency: A new key feature is the introduction of Modern Standby (S0ix), which enables COM-HPC modules to better support energy-efficient operating modes. Bidirectional PCIe clock request signals support more efficient power management, and clock inputs support configuration as clock outputs. These enhancements simplify system design and improve signal routing in complex implementations. 

• I/O Expansion: Revision 1.3 refines the use of GPIOs, which can now be preferentially assigned, for example, to monitor system states or control external devices. The new revision further defines an additional I2S interface, significantly enhancing audio capabilities. Moreover, the DC input range has been expanded to enable new electrical design options, including server-class applications. Optionally, the SMBus can now be used as an additional I2C interface. 

Industry Voices
“Our support of the COM-HPC revision 1.3 is the next step in our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement,” said Christian Eder, director market intelligence at congatec and chairman of the PICMG COM-HPC working group. “Revision 1.3 expands vital functionality while fully preserving backward-compatibility, and that’s important for customers who want to upgrade systems, even if they are already in the field.”  

“COM-HPC 1.3 is the result of close collaboration across the embedded ecosystem,” said Matthew Burns, director of technical marketing at Samtec and secretary of the COM-HPC working group. “The expertise of our signal integrity specialists proved instrumental in integrating PCIe 6.0 design guidelines into the specification.” 

“COM-HPC 1.3 demonstrates how open standards can accelerate innovation,” said Joel Finkel, editor of the COM-HPC working group. “Its combination of new connectivity, higher performance, and greater design flexibility make this standard especially attractive for next-generation high-performance platforms.” 

Meet PICMG at embedded world Nuremberg 2026: 

PICMG executive officers and member companies invite attendees to the PICMG Booth 3-264 during exhibition hours: March 10-11 from 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., March 12 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 

PICMG will also host a networking reception and panel sessions on Wednesday, March 11 at 13:00 UTC in the Mitte entrance that covers the latest innovations in COM-HPC 1.3. Attendance is by invitation only. Contact marketing officer, Brandon Lewis, at [email protected] for more information. 

About PICMG
Founded in 1994, PICMG is a not-for-profit 501(c) consortium of companies and organizations that collaboratively develop open standards for high-performance industrial, industrial IoT, military & aerospace, telecommunications, test & measurement, medical, and general-purpose embedded computing applications. There are more than 150 member companies that specialize in a wide range of technical disciplines, including mechanical and thermal design, single-board computer design, high-speed signaling design and analysis, networking expertise, backplane and packaging design, power management, high-availability software, and comprehensive system management. 

Key standards families developed by PICMG include COM-HPC, COM Express, CompactPCI, AdvancedTCA, MicroTCA, AdvancedMC, CompactPCI Serial, InterEdge, ModBlox7, SHB Express, MicroSAM, and HPM (Hardware Platform Management). For more information, visit https://www.picmg.org, or follow PICMG on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter). 

Media Contacts:
PICMG 
Jessica Isquith
[email protected]  

ThroughPut Marketing
Coline Pourtier
[email protected] 

• Leading standards organization to host annual networking and press reception at industry’s foremost conference on Wednesday, March 11^th
• Booth demos showcase a range of PICMG technology, from COM-HPC and MicroTCA edge servers to open standards middleware and open-source software for Hardware Platform Management (HPM).
• Focus group exploring the future of platform management highlights Day 3.

Wakefield, Mass. – March 3, 2026 – PICMG, the leading consortium for open standards for modular, scalable computing, today announced that it will showcase advances in open hardware specifications, open-source software, and open standards technology at embedded world 2026. Activities will include a networking and press luncheon to review the latest advances in COM-HPC® technology, booth demonstrations around open-source software initiatives like IoT Foundry, a focus group on the evolution of Hardware Platform Management (HPM) technology, and more.

“The embedded world exhibition & conference provides an excellent forum to discuss how open, modular standards continue to evolve in response to increasing performance, scalability, and system management requirements”, said Jessica Isquith, president and CEO, PICMG. “We look forward to one-on-one discussions with attendees who would like to learn how PICMG specifications spur innovation, improve scalability, and protect investment.”

PICMG Activities at embedded world – Schedule & Media Opportunities
Networking Reception & Panel Sessions – Wednesday, March 11, 1:00 p.m. (Mitte Entrance)
PICMG will host a networking reception and panel sessions examining the growing alignment between industry-standard hardware and open-source software. Accredited journalists, editors, and parties interested in designing, developing with, or using PICMG technology are invited to interactive sessions covering:

• Strategic direction of PICMG working groups
• Upcoming specification releases
• Industry alignment initiatives, including collaboration with open-source organizations like the Linux Foundation

Invitations are open to parties interested in designing, developing with, or using PICMG technology. Contact Brandon Lewis, Marketing Officer, at [email protected] for additional information.

Focus Group Session – Thursday, March 12, 8:00 a.m., Nürnberg Messe Meeting Room
A dedicated focus group will explore the intersection of PICMG technology with evolving software and system management requirements. Breakfast will be served and space is limited. Please contact [email protected] for more information on how to attend.

PICMG booth – hall 3-264
PICMG’s executive leadership team — as well as technical experts from PICMG member companies ADLINK Technology, Inc., University of Bielefeld, and N.A.T. GmbH — invite attendees to explore open computing specifications during exhibition hours: March 10-11 from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., March 12 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., at the PICMG booth in Hall 3, 3-264.

Key topics covered at the booth will include:

• Advances in open edge server platforms and workload acceleration
• The evolution of Hardware Platform Management (HPM) specifications
• Open-source activities under the PICMG IoT.x specification family and IoT Foundry and unified IoT interoperability initiatives
• Collaboration with the Linux Foundation

Additional Information
Editors, journalists, and industry professionals seeking additional details about PICMG activities at embedded world 2026, ongoing working group initiatives, or upcoming specification developments are encouraged to visit booth 3-264 during exhibition hours.

To schedule a meeting with PICMG leadership or technical working group representatives, or to request background materials, please contact:

Brandon Lewis
Marketing Officer, PICMG
[email protected]

Additional information about PICMG specifications and membership can be found at:
https://www.picmg.org

About PICMG
Founded in 1994, PICMG is a not-for-profit 501(c) consortium of companies and organizations that collaboratively develop open standards for high-performance industrial, Industrial IoT, military & aerospace, telecommunications, test & measurement, medical, and general-purpose embedded computing applications. There are more than 150 member companies that specialize in a wide range of technical disciplines, including mechanical and thermal design, single board computer design, high-speed signaling design and analysis, networking expertise, backplane and packaging design, power management, high-availability software and comprehensive system management.

Key standards families developed by PICMG include COM-HPC, COM Express, CompactPCI, AdvancedTCA, MicroTCA, AdvancedMC, CompactPCI Serial, InterEdge, ModBlox7, SHB Express, MicroSAM, and HPM (Hardware Platform Management). For more information, visit https://www.picmg.org, or follow PICMG on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

ThroughPut Marketing
Coline Pourtier
[email protected]

For embedded and IoT developers, open source is already mainstream. The Eclipse Foundation’s IoT & Embedded Developer Survey found that:

• Three-in-four developers are actively using open‑source technology in their projects, up from 63 percent a year earlier.
• Embedded Linux remains the most popular operating system, with 46 percent of respondents using it for constrained devices.
• 58 percent of the 14.2 billion connected devices worldwide ran Linux in 2024; about 60 percent of IoT gateway devices run embedded Linux.
• Embedded Linux holds 44 percent market share amongst embedded developers.

For PICMG members developing industrial and edge systems, these data points underscore how open‑source software has become the de facto foundation for secure, scalable edge computing.

On the open standards hardware front, market researchers report that the PICMG COM Express standard captured more than 36.5 percent of the global computer-on-module market in 2024 because of its flexibility and history of industry adoption. This dominance is reinforced by broad acceptance across industrial automation, transportation, medical imaging, and defense, where designers value high‑speed interfaces, modularity and robust roadmaps.

Open-source software gives developers transparency and control while delivering demonstrable gains in productivity, security, and quality. Open standards hardware, on the other hand, provides a physical environment for scaling performance and integrating heterogeneous capabilities. Standards like COM Express and COM‑HPC allow OEMs to upgrade processing capabilities without redesigning entire systems, enabling faster time‑to‑market and extending product lifecycles.

PICMG’s open specifications are designed precisely for this environment. Our working groups continue to advance open, modular computing standards, from new COM‑HPC revisions to CompactPCI Serial and MicroTCA that support high‑bandwidth peripherals, AI accelerators, and real‑time control. Through partnerships with the Data Management Task Force (DMTF), VITA Standards Organization (VSO), Open Processor Automation Forum (OPAF), and others, we ensure that PICMG hardware and middleware specifications align with cross‑industry initiatives.

In February 2026 PICMG took another major step by becoming an Associate Member of the Linux Foundation. This decision reflects the growing importance of open‑source software to embedded and edge computing and underscores our belief that hardware and software communities must work collaboratively.

As stated in the announcement, aligning with the world’s leading open‑source ecosystem will help our members build interoperable, future‑proof solutions. The Linux Foundation hosts key projects such as Linux, Kubernetes, Zephyr, RISC‑V, and SPDX. By participating directly in these communities, we will:

• Explore complementary initiatives
• Engage a wider community of developers and solution providers
• Increase the long‑term viability of our standards
• Extend the visibility of PICMG standards, and
• Accelerate development of software tools that simplify deployment of COM‑HPC®, AdvancedTCA®, MicroTCA®, and other PICMG specifications

Looking ahead

Our investment in open software technologies is not new. For years PICMG engineers have collaborated on the DMTF Redfish standard to enable the IoT.x interoperability framework. In the near term we are evaluating Redfish for managing data center and network infrastructure built on AdvancedTCA, AdvancedMC, MicroTCA and COM‑HPC hardware.

Open technology adoption is accelerating across the embedded and IoT edge landscape. Enterprises see open source as essential, developers are building on open software stacks, and OEMs are leveraging open standards hardware to deliver the high‑performance edge systems that Industry 4.0 demands.

PICMG will continue to champion openness – both through our specification work and through deeper collaboration with the global open‑source community. I encourage members to actively participate in working groups, share experiences implementing open software on PICMG platforms, and engage with our Linux Foundation initiatives. Together we can ensure that the next generation of embedded and edge computing remains open, interoperable, and built to last.

— Doug Sandy, CTO, PICMG