Data Respons vs Innowise: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Data Respons (3.9/5) edges ahead of Innowise (3.7/5) overall. Data Respons is the better choice for nordic teams wanting scale with (so far) retained embedded specialist focus. Innowise is the stronger option for buyers wanting embedded work bundled with broader software outsourcing capacity. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Data Respons vs Innowise: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Data Respons | Innowise |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 | 2007 |
| HQ | Høvik, Norway | Warsaw, Poland |
| Team size | 1,400 | 1,001–5,000 |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | 1,400-person embedded specialist that has retained a genuinely focused practice through two ownership transitions, rather than being folded into a diversified engineering pool | A generalist IT outsourcer by design (broad custom software, staff aug across many domains) where embedded/IoT is a delivery line, not the founding specialty |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team, staff augmentation |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded Linux, C/C++, RTOS | Embedded Linux, C/C++, AWS IoT |
| Industries served | Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime, Medtech, Defense & Security | Healthcare, Fintech, Manufacturing/Industrial IoT, Retail |
Data Respons vs Innowise: overview
Data Respons
Data Respons, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Høvik, Norway, develops embedded systems across eight regulated sectors, employing roughly 1,400 people. At 1,400 people, it's larger than any true boutique on this list, but the practice remains genuinely embedded-focused rather than folded into a diversified engineering pool — a distinction worth checking directly given two ownership transitions in five years (AKKA Technologies in 2020, then folded into Akkodis), since integration into ever-larger parent organizations is the specific dilution risk a specialist-seeking buyer should watch for.
Innowise
Innowise, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, has grown into a multinational IT outsourcing business with a workforce reported between roughly 2,000 and 3,500+ professionals. This is a firmly generalist company by design — broad custom software development and staff augmentation across many technology domains — where IoT and embedded engineering is a delivery line, not the founding specialty, the key distinction versus the boutiques dominating this list's top ranks.
Services and capabilities: Data Respons vs Innowise
| Capability | Data Respons | Innowise |
|---|---|---|
| RTOS firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux (Yocto/BuildRoot) | ✓ | ✗ |
| FPGA programming (Verilog/VHDL) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware & PCB / electrical engineering | ✓ | ✗ |
| IoT connectivity & protocols | ✓ | ✓ |
| Edge AI / on-device ML | ✗ | ✗ |
| Embedded GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cybersecurity & secure boot | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation / team extension | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Data Respons vs Innowise
| Framework / platform | Data Respons | Innowise |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| AUTOSAR | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | N/A | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | N/A | ✓ |
| LoRaWAN | N/A | N/A |
| CAN bus | N/A | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | ✓ |
| Verilog | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Data Respons vs Innowise
| Criterion | Data Respons | Innowise |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Staff augmentation |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Data Respons vs Innowise
| Dimension | Data Respons | Innowise |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime | Healthcare, Fintech, Manufacturing/Industrial IoT |
| Best use cases | Maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity, Medtech products requiring embedded engineering from a multi-sector specialist team with a long independent operating history | IoT products needing embedded firmware plus a full cloud/mobile companion app from one vendor, Staff augmentation for teams needing to scale an existing embedded project quickly |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Data Respons vs Innowise: pros and cons
| Data Respons | |
|---|---|
| + | Nearly 40 years of embedded systems specialization across eight distinct sectors, from maritime to medtech to defense |
| + | Nordic regional presence (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) plus Germany and Taiwan offices supports European and APAC delivery |
| + | Retains a genuinely embedded-focused delivery team despite two ownership transitions (AKKA in 2020, then Akkodis) |
| - | Two ownership transitions in five years (AKKA Technologies 2020, then folded into Akkodis) — confirm current team continuity directly, since parent-organization dilution is a real risk at this stage |
| - | 1,400-employee scale sits below the largest global engineering firms for very large concurrent programs |
| - | No public pricing or minimum engagement figures published |
| Innowise | |
|---|---|
| + | Large delivery capacity (1,000+ engineers) can absorb bigger multi-workstream programs than boutique embedded shops |
| + | European (Poland) legal HQ appeals to buyers wanting EU-based contracting |
| + | Broader software portfolio (cloud, mobile, web) available alongside embedded work for full-stack IoT products |
| - | Embedded/IoT is one of many practice areas rather than a core specialization — depth is shallower than firms built around embedded from day one |
| - | Reported team size varies significantly by source (2,000 to 3,500+), making exact embedded-team capacity hard to verify |
| - | No named public embedded case studies with specific outcomes |
Who should choose Data Respons?
A typical fit: maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity.
1,400-person embedded specialist that has retained a genuinely focused practice through two ownership transitions, rather than being folded into a diversified engineering pool. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime, Medtech, Defense & Security.
Who should choose Innowise?
A typical fit: IoT products needing embedded firmware plus a full cloud/mobile companion app from one vendor.
A generalist IT outsourcer by design (broad custom software, staff aug across many domains) where embedded/IoT is a delivery line, not the founding specialty. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Healthcare, Fintech, Manufacturing/Industrial IoT, Retail.
Decision matrix: Data Respons vs Innowise
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Data Respons |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Data Respons |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Data Respons (Not disclosed) vs Innowise (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Data Respons |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Innowise |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Innowise |
Use case fit: Data Respons vs Innowise
| Use case | Data Respons fit | Innowise fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity | Strong | Limited | Data Respons |
| Medtech products requiring embedded engineering from a multi-sector specialist team with a long independent operating history | Strong | Limited | Data Respons |
| IoT products needing embedded firmware plus a full cloud/mobile companion app from one vendor | Limited | Strong | Innowise |
| Staff augmentation for teams needing to scale an existing embedded project quickly | Limited | Strong | Innowise |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Strong | Innowise |
Verdict: Data Respons vs Innowise
Data Respons (3.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Software Development projects. 1,400-person embedded specialist that has retained a genuinely focused practice through two ownership transitions, rather than being folded into a diversified engineering pool.
Innowise (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need staff augmentation for teams needing to scale an existing embedded project quickly. If your situation matches that, Innowise is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Data Respons vs Innowise FAQ
Is Data Respons better than Innowise?
Data Respons (3.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Data Respons's strongest advantage: nearly 40 years of embedded systems specialization across eight distinct sectors, from maritime to medtech to defense. Innowise's strongest advantage: large delivery capacity (1,000+ engineers) can absorb bigger multi-workstream programs than boutique embedded shops.
How do Data Respons and Innowise differ in pricing?
Data Respons uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Innowise uses fixed project, dedicated team, staff augmentation pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Data Respons or Innowise?
Innowise is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each agency before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Data Respons and Innowise?
Data Respons's primary differentiator is: 1,400-person embedded specialist that has retained a genuinely focused practice through two ownership transitions, rather than being folded into a diversified engineering pool. Innowise's primary differentiator is: a generalist IT outsourcer by design (broad custom software, staff aug across many domains) where embedded/IoT is a delivery line, not the founding specialty. They also differ in team size (1,400 vs 1,001–5,000), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media vs Healthcare, Fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.