Planet Innovation vs Sagentia Innovation: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Planet Innovation (4.2/5) edges ahead of Sagentia Innovation (4.1/5) overall. Planet Innovation is the better choice for diagnostics companies in Asia-Pacific and the US. Sagentia Innovation is the stronger option for surgical robotics and combination products. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Planet Innovation vs Sagentia Innovation: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Planet Innovation | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 1986 |
| HQ | Box Hill, Victoria, Australia | Harston, Cambridge, UK |
| Team size | 300–400 | 650+ (Science Group) |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US | Medical development backed by a listed science group that also runs a regulatory consultancy |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, time and materials | Time and materials, fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, Cloud (AWS/Azure), Microfluidics | Embedded C/C++, Robotics, Mechanical simulation |
| Industries served | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring | Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices |
Planet Innovation vs Sagentia Innovation: 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.
Sagentia Innovation
Sagentia Innovation is owned by Science Group plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. Its roots go back to 1986; the current business was formed in 2021 from Sagentia, OTM Consulting and Oakland Innovation. It is based at Harston Mill near Cambridge, with R&D facilities in Cambridge and Epsom, and its medical work covers devices, combination products and surgical robotics. Science Group employs more than 650 people across all its businesses.
Services and capabilities: Planet Innovation vs Sagentia Innovation
| Capability | Planet Innovation | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Sagentia Innovation
| Framework / platform | Planet Innovation | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | ✓ | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Planet Innovation vs Sagentia Innovation
| Criterion | Planet Innovation | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract, Time & materials | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Planet Innovation vs Sagentia Innovation
| Dimension | Planet Innovation | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring | Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices |
| Best use cases | Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic, Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup | Surgical robot subsystem development, Drug-device combination product engineering |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Consulting |
Planet Innovation vs Sagentia Innovation: 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 |
| Sagentia Innovation | |
|---|---|
| + | Active surgical robotics software and hardware hiring shows current work in that area |
| + | Sister business TSG Consulting has a medical device regulatory team |
| + | Large owned R&D facilities in Cambridge and Epsom |
| + | About 30 years of medical device projects |
| - | Part of a listed group, so commercial priorities answer to public shareholders |
| - | Recent 2021 merger means the brand and teams are relatively new |
| - | Science Group headcount covers many businesses, so the medtech team size is unclear |
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 Sagentia Innovation?
A typical fit: surgical robot subsystem development.
Medical development backed by a listed science group that also runs a regulatory consultancy. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices.
Decision matrix: Planet Innovation vs Sagentia Innovation
| 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 | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Planet Innovation (Not disclosed) vs Sagentia Innovation (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 Sagentia Innovation
| Use case | Planet Innovation fit | Sagentia Innovation fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic | Strong | Limited | Planet Innovation |
| Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup | Strong | Limited | Planet Innovation |
| Surgical robot subsystem development | Limited | Strong | Sagentia Innovation |
| Drug-device combination product engineering | Limited | Strong | Sagentia Innovation |
Verdict: Planet Innovation vs Sagentia Innovation
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.
Sagentia Innovation (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need drug-device combination product engineering. If your situation matches that, Sagentia Innovation is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Planet Innovation vs Sagentia Innovation FAQ
Is Planet Innovation better than Sagentia Innovation?
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. Sagentia Innovation's strongest advantage: active surgical robotics software and hardware hiring shows current work in that area.
How do Planet Innovation and Sagentia Innovation differ in pricing?
Planet Innovation uses fixed project, time and materials pricing. Sagentia Innovation uses time and materials, fixed project 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 Sagentia Innovation?
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 Sagentia Innovation?
Planet Innovation's primary differentiator is: diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US. Sagentia Innovation's primary differentiator is: medical development backed by a listed science group that also runs a regulatory consultancy. They also differ in team size (300–400 vs 650+ (Science Group)), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health vs Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.