Prism Awards celebrate innovative photonics technologies
The 14th annual ceremony showcased a dynamic range of companies – from Luxexcel, PlenOptika, and Lumotive, to SWIR, LightPath Technologies, and ColdQuanta — applying innovative and creative solutions to critical problems in areas such as augmented and virtual reality, biomedical devices, autonomous vehicles, quantum, and industrial lasers.
Each year, the Prism Awards reflect the latest exciting developments, exponential growth, and rich technical innovations across photonics and photonics-enabled industries. For consideration in this year’s awards, SPIE received 120 applications from 18 countries.
Finalists and winners were selected by a panel of international judges who leveraged the knowledge and acumen of leaders from across the technology commercialization and funding sectors. The award categories and the winners 2022 are: Augmented & Virtual Reality – Luxexcel, Autonomous Vehicles – Lumotive, Better Sensing – SWIR Vision Systems, Biomedical Devices – PlenOptika, Displays – Brelyon, Industrial Lasers – Civan Lasers, Manufacturing & Test – LightPath Technologies, Quantum: ColdQuanta, Scientific Lasers: Stuttgart Instruments, and Software: Zemax.
The distinguished judges’ roster included MKS Instruments’ Marc D. Himel, the FDA’s Zane Arp, Femto Blanc's Uri Abrams, iFocus’ Adi Diner, Berkeley Catalyst Fund’s Laura Smoliar, Engender Technologies’ Cather Simpson, Luminate Accelerator's Sujatha Ramanujan, Notal Vision’s Nishant Mohan, Teledyne Princeton Instruments’ Jason McClure, and Chromacity’s Shahida Imani.
“We are particularly delighted to be celebrating our Prism Award winners in person this year,” said SPIE CEO Kent Rochford. “These companies with their scientists and engineers – and I am including the award finalists as well – are ensuring that key technologies and products are reaching, energizing, and continually growing the photonics market. Their critical, innovative work is impacting lives across the globe.”
“Each year, the Prism Awards singles out the very brightest innovations in a highly innovative industry and, despite a global pandemic, supply chain issues, and other challenges over the past year, the 2022 winners still found a way to advance the field of photonics in important and remarkable ways,” said president and CEO of Photonics Media Tom Laurin. “We extend our congratulations to each of this year’s winners, who deserve our industry’s recognition for their advancements in transportation, biomedicine, research, sensing, and quantum technology.”
