Promwad vs ScienceSoft: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Promwad (4.4/5) edges ahead of ScienceSoft (3.7/5) overall. Promwad is the better choice for hardware startups heading for volume production. ScienceSoft is the stronger option for healthcare IoT platforms with light firmware needs. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Promwad vs ScienceSoft: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Promwad | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 | 1989 |
| HQ | Essen, Germany | McKinney, Texas, USA |
| Team size | 101–250 | 750+ |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities | Healthcare IT and IoT platform experience, with security testing in-house |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, time & materials, dedicated team | Fixed project, time & materials |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Embedded Linux | C, C++, FreeRTOS |
| Industries served | Telecom & broadcast, Automotive, Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics | Medical devices, Industrial IoT |
Promwad vs ScienceSoft: overview
Promwad
Roman Pakholkov started Promwad in Minsk in 2004 to design mass-produced electronics on system-on-chip platforms, and the company has since moved its business into the EU, with headquarters in Essen, Germany and a client delivery office in Lithuania. It reports more than 100 employees across 15 countries (per company website; independently unverifiable) and over 500 completed projects. Work spans schematic and PCB design, FPGA logic, embedded Linux, RTOS firmware and preparing designs for factory production. Broadcast video, telecom, automotive and industrial automation are its most frequently cited sectors.
ScienceSoft
ScienceSoft traces its origins to a cooperative founded in 1989 and is now headquartered in McKinney, Texas, with about 750 staff. It has offered IoT services since 2011, with projects such as the AKLOS Health physiotherapy platform, and lists embedded software among its services. Most of its revenue comes from healthcare IT, finance IT, data analytics and security testing. For firmware buyers it is mainly useful when the device side is small and the larger job is the platform around it.
Services and capabilities: Promwad vs ScienceSoft
| Capability | Promwad | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Bare-metal & RTOS firmware | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded Linux & BSP | ✓ | ✗ |
| Electronics & PCB design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Wireless & IoT connectivity | ✓ | ✓ |
| Secure boot & OTA | ✗ | ✓ |
| FPGA development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Firmware testing & HIL | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Promwad vs ScienceSoft
| Framework / platform | Promwad | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Zephyr | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | N/A |
| Yocto | ✓ | N/A |
| AUTOSAR | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | ✓ | N/A |
| Nordic | N/A | N/A |
| NXP | ✓ | N/A |
| FPGA | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Promwad vs ScienceSoft
| Criterion | Promwad | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Fixed project, Time & materials | Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Promwad vs ScienceSoft
| Dimension | Promwad | ScienceSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Telecom & broadcast, Automotive, Industrial IoT | Medical devices, Industrial IoT |
| Best use cases | Designing an FPGA-based video encoder board with embedded Linux, Taking an IoT sensor from prototype to a design ready for volume production | Building a remote patient monitoring platform with BLE device integration, Security testing an IoT product's cloud and mobile components |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
Promwad vs ScienceSoft: pros and cons
| Promwad | |
|---|---|
| + | FPGA and firmware engineers work in the same team, which helps on video and high-speed interface products |
| + | Design-for-manufacturing experience reduces surprises when a prototype moves to a contract manufacturer |
| + | Twenty years of shipped products gives it a long reference list across telecom and broadcast |
| + | Contracting through EU entities simplifies procurement for European buyers |
| - | Founded in Belarus and relocated to the EU; some buyers will want to confirm where their engineers are actually based |
| - | Headcount figures vary by source, so ask who will be assigned before signing |
| - | Pure firmware jobs without a hardware component are a smaller share of its portfolio |
| ScienceSoft | |
|---|---|
| + | Long healthcare IT history useful for connected medical platforms |
| + | In-house security testing team |
| + | Fixed-price proposals available for well-defined scopes |
| - | Firmware is a minor service line, and public embedded case studies are few |
| - | No hardware design |
| - | Better suited to the platform around a device than to the device itself |
Who should choose Promwad?
A typical fit: designing an FPGA-based video encoder board with embedded Linux.
Combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Telecom & broadcast, Automotive, Industrial IoT, Consumer electronics.
Who should choose ScienceSoft?
A typical fit: building a remote patient monitoring platform with BLE device integration.
Healthcare IT and IoT platform experience, with security testing in-house. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Industrial IoT.
Decision matrix: Promwad vs ScienceSoft
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Promwad |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Promwad |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Promwad (Not disclosed) vs ScienceSoft (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Promwad |
| You need engineers to extend your own firmware team | Promwad |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Promwad vs ScienceSoft
| Use case | Promwad fit | ScienceSoft fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designing an FPGA-based video encoder board with embedded Linux | Strong | Limited | Promwad |
| Taking an IoT sensor from prototype to a design ready for volume production | Strong | Limited | Promwad |
| Building a remote patient monitoring platform with BLE device integration | Limited | Strong | ScienceSoft |
| Security testing an IoT product's cloud and mobile components | Limited | Strong | ScienceSoft |
| Fixed-price firmware build | Strong | Strong | Both |
| Extending an in-house firmware team | Strong | Strong | Both |
Verdict: Promwad vs ScienceSoft
Promwad (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. Combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities.
ScienceSoft (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need security testing an IoT product's cloud and mobile components. If your situation matches that, ScienceSoft is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Promwad vs ScienceSoft FAQ
Is Promwad better than ScienceSoft?
Promwad (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Promwad's strongest advantage: FPGA and firmware engineers work in the same team, which helps on video and high-speed interface products. ScienceSoft's strongest advantage: long healthcare IT history useful for connected medical platforms.
How do Promwad and ScienceSoft differ in pricing?
Promwad uses fixed project, time & materials, dedicated team pricing. ScienceSoft uses fixed project, time & materials pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Promwad or ScienceSoft?
Promwad is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each service provider before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Promwad and ScienceSoft?
Promwad's primary differentiator is: combined PCB, FPGA and firmware design with manufacturing preparation, delivered from EU entities. ScienceSoft's primary differentiator is: healthcare IT and IoT platform experience, with security testing in-house. They also differ in team size (101–250 vs 750+), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Telecom & broadcast, Automotive vs Medical devices, Industrial IoT).
Verify all details directly with each service provider before making a decision.