TTP vs Sagentia Innovation: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
TTP (4.4/5) edges ahead of Sagentia Innovation (4.1/5) overall. TTP is the better choice for pharma device programs, inhalers and injectors. 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.
TTP vs Sagentia Innovation: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | TTP | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 | 1986 |
| HQ | Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, UK | Harston, Cambridge, UK |
| Team size | Not published | 650+ (Science Group) |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Employee ownership plus long-running drug delivery and surgical device work for large pharma and medtech clients | Medical development backed by a listed science group that also runs a regulatory consultancy |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, phased fixed project | Time and materials, fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Ultrasound, Microfluidics, Embedded C/C++ | Embedded C/C++, Robotics, Mechanical simulation |
| Industries served | Drug delivery, Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices | Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices |
TTP vs Sagentia Innovation: overview
TTP
TTP (The Technology Partnership) has operated for around 40 years from its own science park in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire. In December 2021 TTP Group moved to 100% employee ownership through an Employee Ownership Trust. Its Medical Devices team works on drug delivery, surgical systems and diagnostics, and the wider company does deep technology work in sectors such as life science instruments and industrial products. Headcount is not published in a form we could verify.
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: TTP vs Sagentia Innovation
| Capability | TTP | 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: TTP vs Sagentia Innovation
| Framework / platform | TTP | 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 | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: TTP vs Sagentia Innovation
| Criterion | TTP | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: TTP vs Sagentia Innovation
| Dimension | TTP | Sagentia Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Drug delivery, Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices | Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices |
| Best use cases | Designing an autoinjector or inhaler for a pharma combination product, Developing a surgical energy device | Surgical robot subsystem development, Drug-device combination product engineering |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Consulting |
TTP vs Sagentia Innovation: pros and cons
| TTP | |
|---|---|
| + | Employee ownership since 2021 removes pressure from outside investors |
| + | Well regarded for drug delivery devices, an area where mechanics and human factors decide success |
| + | Own science park with lab and workshop space for physical prototyping |
| + | Specialist depth in ultrasound and fluidics |
| - | Does not publish headcount or rates, which makes early budgeting harder |
| - | UK-centric delivery; US clients work across time zones |
| - | Pricing sits with the premium Cambridge consultancies |
| 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 TTP?
A typical fit: designing an autoinjector or inhaler for a pharma combination product.
Employee ownership plus long-running drug delivery and surgical device work for large pharma and medtech clients. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices.
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: TTP vs Sagentia Innovation
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | TTP |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: TTP (Not disclosed) vs Sagentia Innovation (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | TTP |
| 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: TTP vs Sagentia Innovation
| Use case | TTP fit | Sagentia Innovation fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designing an autoinjector or inhaler for a pharma combination product | Strong | Limited | TTP |
| Developing a surgical energy device | Strong | Limited | TTP |
| Surgical robot subsystem development | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Drug-device combination product engineering | Limited | Strong | Sagentia Innovation |
Verdict: TTP vs Sagentia Innovation
TTP (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Employee ownership plus long-running drug delivery and surgical device work for large pharma and medtech clients.
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
TTP vs Sagentia Innovation FAQ
Is TTP better than Sagentia Innovation?
TTP (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. TTP's strongest advantage: employee ownership since 2021 removes pressure from outside investors. Sagentia Innovation's strongest advantage: active surgical robotics software and hardware hiring shows current work in that area.
How do TTP and Sagentia Innovation differ in pricing?
TTP uses time and materials, phased fixed project 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: TTP or Sagentia Innovation?
Sagentia 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 TTP and Sagentia Innovation?
TTP's primary differentiator is: employee ownership plus long-running drug delivery and surgical device work for large pharma and medtech clients. 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 (Not published vs 650+ (Science Group)), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Drug delivery, Surgical & robotics vs Surgical & robotics, Drug delivery).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.