The Khronos Group
The Khronos Group is a member-funded industry consortium founded in 2000 that develops royalty-free open standards for 3D graphics, parallel computing, machine learning, vision, and XR. Its portfolio includes Vulkan, OpenGL, glTF, OpenXR, and OpenCL, enabling cross-platform interoperability across GPUs, devices, and applications globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersBeaverton, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What The Khronos Group does
The Khronos Group is a member-funded, industry-governed consortium founded in 2000 and headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. It develops and maintains more than 15 royalty-free open interoperability standards across the 3D graphics, parallel computing, machine learning, vision processing, and XR stacks — among them Vulkan (low-overhead cross-platform GPU API), OpenGL and OpenGL ES (legacy 3D graphics), WebGL (browser 3D), glTF (3D asset transmission), OpenCL and SYCL (heterogeneous and C++ parallel programming), OpenXR (VR/AR access), OpenVX (vision and ML inference), SPIR-V (shader intermediate representation), ANARI (analytic rendering), KTX (texture containers), NNEF (neural network exchange), Slang (shader language hosted since November 2024), Vulkan SC (safety-critical GPU compute), and Kamaros (camera API in development with EMVA).
Its core delivery mechanism is member-driven working groups with public conformance test suites and Adopter trademark licensing that gate the use of Khronos marks. Revenue is generated primarily through tiered membership dues (members vote on standards and get early specification access), separate per-specification Adopter program fees (any company shipping conforming implementations pays for the right to use the trademarks), a 3D Commerce Viewer Certification Program launched in June 2021, event/training activities (DevUs, BOF sessions at SIGGRAPH and GDC, regional road shows in Asia), and modest merchandise sales. glTF 2.0 was elevated to ISO/IEC 12113:2022 international standard status, and Khronos sits as a founding member of the Metaverse Standards Forum alongside OGC and others.
The organisation is staffed by 1–10 paid employees supported by a vast volunteer network of member-company representatives; Neil Trevett serves as President while also holding the role of Vice President at NVIDIA. Standards are freely downloadable from the Khronos Registry and open-source implementations reside on GitHub, so the consortium's commercial proposition is governance, conformance, and trademark licensing rather than software licensing. Named participants across the ecosystem include NVIDIA, AMD, ARM, Intel, Qualcomm, Samsung, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, Epic Games, Unity Technologies, Babylon.js, Autodesk, Continental Automotive, and Codeplay, spanning GPUs, mobile devices, game engines, e-commerce platforms, and automotive suppliers globally.
The Khronos Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Khronos Group
- Legal name
- The Khronos Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://khronos.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Khronos Group is a member-funded industry consortium founded in 2000 that develops royalty-free open standards for 3D graphics, parallel computing, machine learning, vision, and XR. Its portfolio includes Vulkan, OpenGL, glTF, OpenXR, and OpenCL, enabling cross-platform interoperability across GPUs, devices, and applications globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Khronos Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Graphics and Computing API Specifications
- NAICS
- Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) (5331), Software Publishers (51321)
- SIC
- Patent Owners & Lessors (6794)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Standards, Registries & Interoperability Services (EIDR/ISAN, CPE, DDEX) (MPAHALAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Rights & Licensing Management (Contract, Territory/Window, Royalty) (MPAHALAA)
Keywords
Where The Khronos Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beaverton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Khronos Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Companies join Khronos as members to participate in standards development, gain early access to specifications before public release, vote on standards at various stages, and receive preferential treatment in adopting standards. Membership fees fund the consortium's operations and standards development activities.
- Adopter Program Fees: Companies that implement Khronos specifications commercially pay adopter fees per specification version. Adopters gain access to conformance tests and the right to use the associated trademarks and logos for marketing conformant products. This is independent of membership - non-members can become Adopters.
- Event and Training Services: Khronos organizes developer training sessions (DevUs), hosts BOF sessions at major conferences (SIGGRAPH, GDC), conducts regional road shows across Asia, and provides educational content including books, reference guides, and webinars that may generate revenue.
- Merchandise Sales: Khronos operates an online merchandise store selling branded items (khronos.org/store).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Membership tiers with varying participation rights |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels11 records
The Khronos Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Khronos Group develops and maintains a portfolio of royalty-free open standards and API specifications for 3D graphics, parallel computing, machine learning, vision processing, sensor interfaces, and cross-platform XR. Its offerings include specifications such as Vulkan, OpenGL/OpenGL ES, WebGL, OpenCL, SYCL, OpenXR, glTF, SPIR-V, OpenVX, NNEF, ANARI, Vulkan SC, KTX, Slang, and Kamaros, distributed through a member-driven consortium model with conformance testing, adopter programs, and trademark licensing.
Product overview
The Khronos Group is a member-funded industry consortium that creates open royalty-free standards for 3D graphics, parallel computing, machine learning, vision processing, and sensor interfaces. The portfolio includes Vulkan (cross-platform GPU graphics and compute), OpenGL and OpenGL ES (desktop and embedded 3D graphics), WebGL (browser-based graphics), OpenCL (heterogeneous parallel programming), SYCL (C++ parallel programming), OpenXR (VR/AR cross-platform access), glTF (3D asset transmission format), SPIR-V (shader intermediate representation), OpenVX (vision processing), NNEF (neural network exchange), ANARI (scientific visualization rendering), Vulkan SC (safety-critical graphics), COLLADA (digital asset exchange), KTX (texture container), EGL (platform interface), OpenVG (vector graphics), Kamaros (camera API), and Slang (shading language). Member companies implement these specifications to achieve interoperability across hardware and software platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vulkan 1.0 Low-overhead, cross-platform 3D graphics and compute API for high-performance GPU access across PC, console, mobile, and embedded platforms, providing direct GPU control and multi-threaded command buffer generation.
- Vulkan 1.3 Latest major Vulkan specification strengthening the ecosystem and reducing feature fragmentation through integrated profiles and consolidated extensions.
- Vulkan SC 1.0 Safety-critical profile of Vulkan derived from Vulkan 1.2 with non-safety-critical runtime functionality removed, enabling certified GPU acceleration for automotive, avionics, and other safety-critical markets.
- OpenXR 1.0 Unified royalty-free open standard for high-performance cross-platform access to virtual reality and augmented reality platforms and devices.
- OpenXR 1.1 OpenXR update extending the cross-platform XR API with integrations that reduce fragmentation and add features for more powerful XR applications.
- glTF 1.0 Royalty-free specification for efficient transmission and loading of 3D scenes and models, designed as the 'JPEG of 3D' for web, mobile, desktop, and cloud interoperability.
- ANARI 1.0 First cross-platform open standard API for scalable 3D data visualization and analytic rendering, enabling portable scene descriptions across rendering engines.
- SYCL 2020 Single-source C++ parallel programming standard built on C++17 enabling standard C++ applications to be accelerated across CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, and other accelerators.
- OpenCL 3.0 Royalty-free cross-platform parallel programming standard for heterogeneous accelerators found in supercomputers, cloud servers, PCs, mobile devices, and embedded platforms.
- Slang Initiative Open-source shading language and compiler for GPU shader development targeting SPIR-V and other backends, hosted by Khronos and based on 15 years of NVIDIA research, development, and deployment.
- 3D Commerce Viewer Certification Program Certification program for 3D viewers that ensures accurate, consistent rendering of glTF assets across devices and platforms for e-commerce applications.
- OpenGL Cross-platform 2D and 3D graphics API specification for desktop and workstation systems, supporting professional graphics applications and game development.
- OpenGL ES Embedded systems profile of OpenGL for mobile, automotive, and embedded device 3D graphics.
- WebGL JavaScript API for rendering 2D and 3D graphics in web browsers without plugins, based on OpenGL ES, with WebGL 2.0 achieving pervasive support across all major web browsers.
- SPIR-V Standardized intermediate representation for GPU shaders and compute kernels, enabling compiler chain separation and language frontend diversity while reducing GPU driver complexity.
- OpenVX Cross-platform computer vision and machine learning inference acceleration API for embedded and real-time vision processing.
- NNEF Neural Network Exchange Format for reliable deployment of trained neural networks across diverse edge inference engines.
- COLLADA Digital asset exchange schema for interactive 3D applications, enabling 3D authoring tool interoperability.
- KTX Khronos texture container format for GPU texture compression, including Basis Universal support for efficient transcoding to GPU-native formats.
- EGL Interface between Khronos rendering APIs and underlying native platform window systems.
- OpenVG Hardware-accelerated 2D vector graphics API for mobile and embedded platforms.
- Kamaros Open royalty-free API standard for controlling embedded, mobile, industrial, VR, automotive, and scientific camera systems, developed jointly by Khronos and EMVA.
- glTF PBR Extensions Physical Based Rendering material extensions for glTF including clear coat, transmission, sheen, volume, IOR, and specular properties.
- Khronos Membership Program Annual consortium membership for technology companies to participate in standards development, gain early specification access, vote at multiple development stages, and influence the direction of Khronos standards.
- Khronos Adopter Program Program enabling companies implementing Khronos specifications commercially to pass conformance testing, gain access to conformance tests, and use associated trademarks and logos for marketing conformant products.
Quantifiable outcome
- glTF 2.0 adopted as ISO/IEC 12113:2022 international standard
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Khronos Group
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Khronos Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
The Khronos Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- European Machine Vision Association (EMVA)coreKhronos and EMVA jointly established a new working group in January 2022 to develop an open, royalty-free API standard for controlling embedded, mobile, industrial, VR, automotive, and scientific camera systems (Kamaros). In 2021, over 70 companies participated in a joint exploratory group to define the scope and API design direction.
- NVIDIA CorporationcoreNVIDIA has been supporting and contributing to the Slang shader language since 2017. In November 2024, Khronos launched the Slang Initiative to oversee and advance the open-source Slang compiler, based on NVIDIA's 15 years of research and deployment. NVIDIA's Neil Trevett serves as Khronos President and VP at NVIDIA. NVIDIA contributes extensively to Vulkan, SYCL, OpenXR, and multiple other standards.
- Imagination TechnologiesminorImagination Technologies and Khronos jointly hosted a technical seminar in Shanghai in July 2022, focusing on GPU technology, open-source standards, and open API opportunities in mobile gaming, automotive, and cloud sectors.
- Metaverse Standards ForumcoreAnnounced October 2022, the Metaverse Standards Forum brings together leading standards organizations and companies to cooperate on open metaverse interoperability standards. Khronos participates as a founding standards organization alongside OGC and many others, addressing gaps in metaverse interoperability through practical projects including prototyping, hackathons, and plugfests.
- Epic GamescoreEpic Games participates in the Metaverse Standards Forum, supports OpenXR through Unreal Engine, and contributes to the 3D Commerce certification program. Epic's Unreal Engine implements Vulkan and glTF standards.
- Unity TechnologiescoreUnity supports OpenXR in its game engine and participates in the 3D Commerce certification program. Unity is a member of the Metaverse Standards Forum.
- Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)coreOGC and Khronos collaborate on interoperability standards. glTF's compression and streaming capabilities integrate with OGC's 3D Tiles and I3S specifications. Both are founding members of the Metaverse Standards Forum. KTX 2.0 textures are integrated into OGC's I3S v1.2 specification for geospatial data streaming.
- Babylon.jscoreMicrosoft's Babylon.js supports glTF PBR extensions, KTX 2.0 textures, and OpenXR. The Babylon.js team was among the first to recognize glTF as an efficient standard. Babylon.js supports Khronos PBR Neutral tone mapper.
- AutodeskcoreAutodesk collaborated on glTF Blender export and supports Khronos PBR Neutral tone mapper. Autodesk VRED supports OpenXR. Adobe Substance 3D Stager supports glTF PBR extensions.
- LunarG Inc.coreLunarG developed and maintains the official Vulkan SDK for Windows and Linux, released simultaneously with Vulkan 1.0. The SDK includes validation layers, debugging tools, and sample programs. LunarG is a Khronos member and has sponsored Khronos events.
- Binomial (Basis Universal)coreBinomial developed the Basis Universal texture compression technology, which is now integrated into KTX 2.0. Khronos adopted Basis Universal as the basis for the KTX 2.0 texture container format, enabling efficient transcoding to GPU-native formats.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Khronos Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- World Wide Web Consortium (W3C): W3C operates as a member-funded international consortium that develops royalty-free open standards for the web (HTML, CSS, WebGL via Khronos collaboration, WebGPU). It shares Khronos's consortium governance model, member-funded economics, and standards interoperability mission.
- Object Management Group (now part of OMG and then DIGITAL.OMG): OMG is a member-driven consortium that develops vendor-neutral technology specifications (UML, CORBA, DDS). It shares Khronos's member-funded economics, working-group governance, and royalty-free IP framework, though focused on enterprise/middleware standards rather than graphics.
- JEDEC Solid State Technology Association: JEDEC is the semiconductor engineering industry's standards body, funded by member companies and producing open standards (DDR memory, HBM, Compute Express Link). Its consortium governance, royalty-free specifications, and focus on hardware/software interoperability mirror Khronos's approach in graphics.
- Ecma International: Ecma International is a standards organization that develops standards like ECMAScript (JavaScript) and has historically hosted C# standards. Its consortium-based, member-funded operating model closely mirrors Khronos's structure and royalty-free IP framework.
- USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF): USB-IF is a non-profit industry consortium that promotes and develops USB standards through member-driven working groups and a conformance/certification program. Its royalty-free IP framework, trademark licensing model, and conformance-tested interoperability focus closely parallel Khronos's Adopter Program.
- PCI-SIG: PCI-SIG is a consortium that owns and develops the PCI Express standard used for GPU and accelerator interconnects. Its member-funded model, per-specification adopter fees, and trademark-controlled interoperability branding structurally mirror Khronos's Adopter Program.
- Bluetooth SIG: Bluetooth SIG is a member-funded trade association that oversees Bluetooth wireless technology standards through membership tiers and a rigorous qualification (conformance) program. Its tiered membership model, adopter qualification process, and trademark licensing are structurally analogous to Khronos.
- Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC): OGC is a member-funded standards organization for geospatial interoperability, and a founding co-participant with Khronos in the Metaverse Standards Forum. The two organizations have explicit technical collaborations (KTX 2.0 in I3S v1.2, glTF/3D Tiles integration) making OGC a closely intertwined peer.
Emerging players
- MLCommons: MLCommons is an open engineering consortium focused on ML benchmarks (MLPerf) and best practices. As a newer consortium tackling ML standardization in areas adjacent to Khronos's NNEF and OpenVX, it represents an emerging peer in the ML standards landscape where Khronos also competes.
Broad incumbents
- IEEE Standards Association: IEEE-SA develops consensus-based standards across a much broader technology portfolio (networking, power, embedded systems). It is a larger and more established standards body with similar royalty-free, member-funded operating principles, and its IEEE 754 floating-point standard underpins GPU compute (relevant to Vulkan/OpenCL).
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Khronos Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Khronos Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Khronos Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Khronos Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Khronos Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about The Khronos Group
What does The Khronos Group do?
The Khronos Group develops and maintains a portfolio of royalty-free open standards and API specifications for 3D graphics, parallel computing, machine learning, vision processing, sensor interfaces, and cross-platform XR. Its offerings include specifications such as Vulkan, OpenGL/OpenGL ES, WebGL, OpenCL, SYCL, OpenXR, glTF, SPIR-V, OpenVX, NNEF, ANARI, Vulkan SC, KTX, Slang, and Kamaros, distributed through a member-driven consortium model with conformance testing, adopter programs, and trademark licensing.
Is The Khronos Group a public or private company?
The Khronos Group is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was The Khronos Group founded?
The Khronos Group was founded in 2000. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Khronos Group based?
The Khronos Group is headquartered in Beaverton, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Khronos Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are adopter Program Fees, event and Training Services and merchandise Sales.
Who are The Khronos Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Object Management Group (now part of OMG and then DIGITAL.OMG), JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, Ecma International, USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), PCI-SIG, Bluetooth SIG and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). MLCommons is listed as an emerging player. IEEE Standards Association is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Khronos Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Khronos Group.
What industry is The Khronos Group in?
The Khronos Group's product category is Graphics and Computing API Specifications. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHALAO, Standards, Registries & Interoperability Services (EIDR/ISAN, CPE, DDEX), with a secondary code of MPAHALAA, Rights & Licensing Management (Contract, Territory/Window, Royalty). Its NAICS code is 5331 and its SIC code is 6794.