Innowise vs Data Respons: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Data Respons (4.2/5) edges ahead of Innowise (3.8/5) overall. Data Respons is the better choice for nordic and European clients needing embedded work across multiple regulated sectors. Innowise is the stronger option for buyers wanting embedded work bundled with broader software outsourcing. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Innowise vs Data Respons: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Innowise | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 1986 |
| HQ | Warsaw, Poland | Høvik, Norway |
| Team size | 1,001–5,000 | 1,400 |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Large-scale IT outsourcing capacity with an IoT/embedded delivery line inside a much broader software portfolio | Nordic embedded specialist with nearly 40 years of history across eight distinct industry sectors, now backed by Akkodis' scale |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team, staff augmentation | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded Linux, C/C++, AWS IoT | Embedded Linux, C/C++, RTOS |
| Industries served | Healthcare, Fintech, Manufacturing/Industrial IoT, Retail | Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime, Medtech, Defense & Security |
Innowise vs Data Respons: overview
Innowise
Innowise was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, having grown into a multinational IT outsourcing business with delivery centers across Europe and a workforce reported between roughly 2,000 and 3,500+ professionals depending on the source. The company's core business is broad custom software development, software product development, and staff augmentation across many technology domains; embedded and IoT engineering is one practice area within that broader portfolio rather than the firm's primary specialization, which distinguishes it from boutique embedded-only shops on this list.
Data Respons
Data Respons was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Høvik, Norway, developing embedded systems across transport & automotive, telecom & media, industrial automation, energy & maritime, medtech, space, defense & security, and finance & public sectors, with offices in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Taiwan and roughly 1,400 employees. AKKA Technologies acquired Data Respons through a compulsory share acquisition completed in May 2020, delisting it from the Oslo Stock Exchange; AKKA itself was subsequently folded into Akkodis (part of the Adecco Group). Data Respons retains a genuinely embedded-focused practice despite the ownership changes, distinguishing it from broader generalist consultancies that added embedded as a side practice.
Services and capabilities: Innowise vs Data Respons
| Capability | Innowise | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Innowise vs Data Respons
| Framework / platform | Innowise | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Innowise vs Data Respons
| Criterion | Innowise | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Staff augmentation | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Innowise vs Data Respons
| Dimension | Innowise | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Healthcare, Fintech, Manufacturing/Industrial IoT | Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime |
| Best use cases | 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 | Maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity, Medtech products requiring embedded engineering across a multi-sector specialist team |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Innowise vs Data Respons: pros and cons
| 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 |
| 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 |
| + | Now backed by Akkodis (Adecco Group) scale while retaining a genuinely embedded-focused delivery team |
| - | Acquired by AKKA Technologies in 2020 (delisted from Oslo Stock Exchange) and subsequently folded into Akkodis — buyers should confirm which legacy Data Respons teams and processes remain intact |
| - | 1,400-employee scale sits below the largest global engineering firms for very large concurrent programs |
| - | Public pricing and minimum engagement figures are not disclosed |
Who should choose Innowise?
A typical fit: IoT products needing embedded firmware plus a full cloud/mobile companion app from one vendor.
Large-scale IT outsourcing capacity with an IoT/embedded delivery line inside a much broader software portfolio. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Healthcare, Fintech, Manufacturing/Industrial IoT, Retail.
Who should choose Data Respons?
A typical fit: maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity.
Nordic embedded specialist with nearly 40 years of history across eight distinct industry sectors, now backed by Akkodis' scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime, Medtech, Defense & Security.
Decision matrix: Innowise vs Data Respons
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Innowise |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Innowise |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Innowise (Not disclosed) vs Data Respons (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: Innowise vs Data Respons
| Use case | Innowise fit | Data Respons fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| IoT products needing embedded firmware plus a full cloud/mobile companion app from one vendor | Strong | Limited | Innowise |
| Staff augmentation for teams needing to scale an existing embedded project quickly | Strong | Limited | Innowise |
| Maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity | Limited | Strong | Data Respons |
| Medtech products requiring embedded engineering across a multi-sector specialist team | Limited | Strong | Data Respons |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Strong | Limited | Innowise |
Verdict: Innowise vs Data Respons
Data Respons (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Software projects. Nordic embedded specialist with nearly 40 years of history across eight distinct industry sectors, now backed by Akkodis' scale.
Innowise (3.8/5) 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
Innowise vs Data Respons FAQ
Is Innowise better than Data Respons?
Data Respons (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Innowise's strongest advantage: large delivery capacity (1,000+ engineers) can absorb bigger multi-workstream programs than boutique embedded shops. Data Respons's strongest advantage: nearly 40 years of embedded systems specialization across eight distinct sectors, from maritime to medtech to defense.
How do Innowise and Data Respons differ in pricing?
Innowise uses fixed project, dedicated team, staff augmentation pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Data Respons uses fixed project, dedicated team 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: Innowise or Data Respons?
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 company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Innowise and Data Respons?
Innowise's primary differentiator is: large-scale IT outsourcing capacity with an IoT/embedded delivery line inside a much broader software portfolio. Data Respons's primary differentiator is: nordic embedded specialist with nearly 40 years of history across eight distinct industry sectors, now backed by Akkodis' scale. They also differ in team size (1,001–5,000 vs 1,400), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Healthcare, Fintech vs Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.