Planet Innovation vs Phillips-Medisize: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Planet Innovation (4.2/5) edges ahead of Phillips-Medisize (3.9/5) overall. Planet Innovation is the better choice for diagnostics companies in Asia-Pacific and the US. Phillips-Medisize is the stronger option for drug delivery devices needing high-volume production. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Planet Innovation vs Phillips-Medisize: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Planet Innovation | Phillips-Medisize |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 1964 |
| HQ | Box Hill, Victoria, Australia | Hudson, WI, USA |
| Team size | 300–400 | ~7,000 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US | Design, molding and assembly of drug delivery devices under one global quality system |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, time and materials | Development contract plus manufacturing supply agreement |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, Cloud (AWS/Azure), Microfluidics | Injection molding, Automated assembly, BLE |
| Industries served | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices |
Planet Innovation vs Phillips-Medisize: 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.
Phillips-Medisize
Phillips-Medisize is a subsidiary of Molex, itself owned by Koch Industries, and provides outsourced design, development and manufacturing to pharma, diagnostics and medical device companies. It is based in Wisconsin and has about 7,000 employees. Molex's purchase of inhalation specialist Vectura added combination-product expertise, and the combined team includes more than 1,200 engineers and scientists across 30 sites. A $110M manufacturing campus in Katowice, Poland, opened in November 2023.
Services and capabilities: Planet Innovation vs Phillips-Medisize
| Capability | Planet Innovation | Phillips-Medisize |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Phillips-Medisize
| Framework / platform | Planet Innovation | Phillips-Medisize |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | 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 Phillips-Medisize
| Criterion | Planet Innovation | Phillips-Medisize |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract, Time & materials | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Planet Innovation vs Phillips-Medisize
| Dimension | Planet Innovation | Phillips-Medisize |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices |
| Best use cases | Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic, Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup | Autoinjector or pen injector development and production, Inhaler device for a pharma combination product |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Planet Innovation vs Phillips-Medisize: 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 |
| Phillips-Medisize | |
|---|---|
| + | Very large manufacturing footprint across the US, Europe and Asia |
| + | Vectura deal added deep inhalation and combination-product skills |
| + | Development and manufacturing under one quality system |
| + | Experience with connected drug delivery |
| - | Owned by Molex and Koch Industries, so it suits large pharma more than small startups |
| - | Development work is usually tied to a manufacturing agreement |
| - | Less suited to software-heavy or early research projects |
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 Phillips-Medisize?
A typical fit: autoinjector or pen injector development and production.
Design, molding and assembly of drug delivery devices under one global quality system. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices.
Decision matrix: Planet Innovation vs Phillips-Medisize
| 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 Phillips-Medisize (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 Phillips-Medisize
| Use case | Planet Innovation fit | Phillips-Medisize fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing a connected point-of-care diagnostic | Strong | Limited | Planet Innovation |
| Commercialization planning for an Australian medtech startup | Strong | Limited | Planet Innovation |
| Autoinjector or pen injector development and production | Limited | Strong | Phillips-Medisize |
| Inhaler device for a pharma combination product | Limited | Strong | Phillips-Medisize |
Verdict: Planet Innovation vs Phillips-Medisize
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.
Phillips-Medisize (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need inhaler device for a pharma combination product. If your situation matches that, Phillips-Medisize is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Planet Innovation vs Phillips-Medisize FAQ
Is Planet Innovation better than Phillips-Medisize?
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. Phillips-Medisize's strongest advantage: very large manufacturing footprint across the US, Europe and Asia.
How do Planet Innovation and Phillips-Medisize differ in pricing?
Planet Innovation uses fixed project, time and materials pricing. Phillips-Medisize uses development contract plus manufacturing supply agreement 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 Phillips-Medisize?
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 Phillips-Medisize?
Planet Innovation's primary differentiator is: diagnostics roots plus product and commercialization experience in Australia and the US. Phillips-Medisize's primary differentiator is: Design, molding and assembly of drug delivery devices under one global quality system. They also differ in team size (300–400 vs ~7,000), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Diagnostics & lab devices, Digital health vs Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.