31.01.2025 • News • associations • Awards

Prism Awards presented for new products in the photonics industry

The industry-focused awards recognized innovations in lasers, biomedical, quantum tech, sensors, and cameras and imaging.

On 29 January, SPIE recognized the top-rated new optics and photonics products with the industry-focused Prism Awards. The gala evening, held during SPIE Photonics West, marked the Prism Awards’ 17th anniversary of honoring companies that are bringing transformative products to market. In addition, the society recognized its second SPIE Catalyst Award recipient, honoring a for-profit company for a specific social or environmentally focused program that has had significant positive impact, either within their workplace, on society at large, or on the environment.

Prism Awards 2025 logo (Source: SPIE)

Jenoptik’s Ralf Kuschnereit (l) and SPIE President Peter de Groot (r) present...

The judges from nine countries included government-agency representatives, commercial business executives, academic researchers, and industry leaders. Presenters at the gala event included Luminate’s Sujatha Ramanujan, Edmund Optics’ Katie Schwertz, ETH Zurich’s Ursula Keller, NKT Photonics’ Basil Garabet, Singular Photonics’ Shahida Imani, Notal Vision’s Nishant Mohan, Ruda Optical’s Kate Medicus, Thorlabs’ Jennifer Cable, and Imperial College London’s Jessica Wade.

The award categories, the winning companies, and their winning products 2025 are:
    Biomedical: Norlase, LYNX
    Cameras and Imaging Systems: NIL Technology, metaEye ultracompact camera
    Lasers: Scantinel Photonics, narrow linewidth hybrid-integrated laser
    Optical Materials and Components: Omega Optical, DeepUV transmission gratings
    Quantum Tech: Leonardo DRS (Daylight Solutions), Stretto
    Sensors: FlulDect, SpheroScan Explorer
    Software: HyperSpectral Corp, SpecAI
    Test and Measurement: Quartus Engineering, OptiQuiver
    Catalyst: Schott, 100 % hydrogen-powered optical glass production

On 28 January, Max-IR Labs was announced the winner of the $10,000 top prize at the 15th annual SPIE Startup Challenge. Its AquaCarbon Monitor is set to facilitate carbon credits with precise CO2 monitoring in water systems.

Photosynthetic and its Volumetric microlithography product which enables the rapid production of complex 3D devices with submicron features, received $5,000 for second place. OptiCardio came in third, winning $2,500 with their spectroscopy-enabled device for real-time guidance to reduce the recurrence rate of ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation.