Planet Innovation vs S3 Connected Health: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Planet Innovation (4.2/5) edges ahead of S3 Connected Health (4.2/5) overall. Planet Innovation is the better choice for diagnostics companies in Asia-Pacific and the US. S3 Connected Health is the stronger option for pharma companies adding connectivity to drug delivery. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Planet Innovation vs S3 Connected Health: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Planet Innovation | S3 Connected Health |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 2001 |
| HQ | Box Hill, Victoria, Australia | Dublin, Ireland |
| Team size | 300–400 | 200–300 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US | Combines embedded wireless engineering with patient-facing apps and data platforms for pharma programs |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, time and materials | Fixed project, time and materials, managed service |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, Cloud (AWS/Azure), Microfluidics | BLE, Embedded C/C++, iOS |
| Industries served | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring | Drug delivery, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring |
Planet Innovation vs S3 Connected Health: overview
Planet Innovation
Planet Innovation was founded in Melbourne in 2009 by four diagnostics industry specialists: Eduardo Vom, Sam Lanyon, Stuart Elliott and Troy O'Callaghan. It is headquartered in Box Hill, Victoria, with a facility in Irvine, California, and employs roughly 300 to 390 people depending on the source. The company has focused on regulated medical devices since 2016 and works across diagnostics, medical devices, biotechnology and connected health, including some product ventures of its own.
S3 Connected Health
S3 Connected Health is the connected health business of Dublin's S3 Group (Silicon & Software Systems), which dates to 1986; the connected health unit itself is listed as founded around 2001. After the group sold its semiconductor unit to Adesto, it concentrated on this business. It works with pharma and medtech companies on connected drug delivery, SaMD, IoMT platforms, wireless connectivity and data security, and partnered with Ypsomed on connected injection devices. Employee figures range from about 200 to 300.
Services and capabilities: Planet Innovation vs S3 Connected Health
| Capability | Planet Innovation | S3 Connected Health |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics & PCB design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Firmware & embedded software | ✓ | ✓ |
| SaMD & companion apps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Connected devices & IoT | ✓ | ✓ |
| Industrial design & human factors | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mechanical engineering | ✓ | ✗ |
| Device cybersecurity | ✗ | ✓ |
| Regulatory & QMS support | ✗ | ✓ |
| Manufacturing & scale-up | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Planet Innovation vs S3 Connected Health
| Framework / platform | Planet Innovation | S3 Connected Health |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | ✓ |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | ✓ | ✓ |
| IEC 62304 | N/A | ✓ |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Planet Innovation vs S3 Connected Health
| Criterion | Planet Innovation | S3 Connected Health |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract, Time & materials | Dedicated team, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Planet Innovation vs S3 Connected Health
| Dimension | Planet Innovation | S3 Connected Health |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring | Drug delivery, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring |
| Best use cases | Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic, Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup | Adding Bluetooth connectivity to an autoinjector, Building a patient adherence app and backend |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Dedicated team |
Planet Innovation vs S3 Connected Health: pros and cons
| Planet Innovation | |
|---|---|
| + | Founders came from the diagnostics industry, and diagnostics is still its strongest area |
| + | Has launched products of its own, so it understands commercialization as well as engineering |
| + | Australian base offers time-zone coverage for Asia-Pacific clients |
| + | Irvine facility serves US clients locally |
| - | Runs its own product ventures, so ask how client work is prioritized |
| - | Less known in Europe |
| - | Headcount and certifications should be confirmed directly |
| S3 Connected Health | |
|---|---|
| + | Long experience in wireless and embedded software from its S3 Group background |
| + | Works directly with pharma on connected injectors and inhalers, such as the Ypsomed partnership |
| + | Covers apps, cloud and the device connectivity module |
| + | Delivery team includes a site in Poland, which helps with cost |
| - | Founding date and history are tangled with the wider S3 Group, so check which entity you contract with |
| - | Not a mechanical or industrial design firm |
| - | Pharma focus means pure medtech hardware projects are less common |
Who should choose Planet Innovation?
A typical fit: developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic.
Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring.
Who should choose S3 Connected Health?
A typical fit: adding Bluetooth connectivity to an autoinjector.
Combines embedded wireless engineering with patient-facing apps and data platforms for pharma programs. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring.
Decision matrix: Planet Innovation vs S3 Connected Health
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Planet Innovation |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | S3 Connected Health |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Planet Innovation (Not disclosed) vs S3 Connected Health (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Planet Innovation |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Planet Innovation vs S3 Connected Health
| Use case | Planet Innovation fit | S3 Connected Health fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic | Strong | Limited | Planet Innovation |
| Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup | Strong | Limited | Planet Innovation |
| Adding Bluetooth connectivity to an autoinjector | Limited | Strong | S3 Connected Health |
| Building a patient adherence app and backend | Limited | Strong | S3 Connected Health |
Verdict: Planet Innovation vs S3 Connected Health
Planet Innovation (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US.
S3 Connected Health (4.2/5) is worth a look if you need building a patient adherence app and backend. If your situation matches that, S3 Connected Health is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Planet Innovation vs S3 Connected Health FAQ
Is Planet Innovation better than S3 Connected Health?
Planet Innovation (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Planet Innovation's strongest advantage: founders came from the diagnostics industry, and diagnostics is still its strongest area. S3 Connected Health's strongest advantage: long experience in wireless and embedded software from its S3 Group background.
How do Planet Innovation and S3 Connected Health differ in pricing?
Planet Innovation uses fixed project, time and materials pricing. S3 Connected Health uses fixed project, time and materials, managed service pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Planet Innovation or S3 Connected Health?
Planet Innovation is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Planet Innovation and S3 Connected Health?
Planet Innovation's primary differentiator is: diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US. S3 Connected Health's primary differentiator is: combines embedded wireless engineering with patient-facing apps and data platforms for pharma programs. They also differ in team size (300–400 vs 200–300), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health vs Drug delivery, Digital health).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.