Prism Awards 10th edition: entry deadline is October 6

25 Sep 2017

Trumpf’s Peter Leibinger and Hamamatsu chief Akira Hiruma confirmed as presenters for anniversary black-tie event in San Francisco.

2017 Prism winners Leica Geosystems

Entries for the tenth edition of the Prism Awards for innovation in optics and photonics are now due. The deadline for submissions to the gala event, held in conjunction with next year’s Photonics West, is October 6.

Over the past decade the Prisms have recognized the cutting-edge of application-focused photonics technology development, with the annual event featuring some of the biggest names in the sector on a regular basis.

Among the winners in 2009, the inaugural year of the awards, were the likes of laser giant Coherent, silicon photonics pioneer Luxtera, and quantum cascade laser specialist Daylight Solutions.

Since then, Coherent has gone from strength to strength, expanding organically and through a series of acquisitions including last year’s near-billion-dollar deal to buy industrial laser firm Rofin-Sinar.

Meanwhile Daylight has recently become part of the giant defense contractor Leonardo, which acquired the San Diego company for $150 million earlier this year. Other big-hitters to have claimed Prisms include IPG Photonics, Hamamatsu Photonics, Agilent Technologies, Leica Geosystems (pictured above) and General Electric.

Change to entry process
This year’s Prism Awards entry process is a little different to previous editions, with organizers SPIE and Photonics Media inviting applicants to choose from a selection of 16 technology areas and 25 target markets – intended to make the awards more accessible to a wider range of companies and products.

Among the new areas to feature this year are quantum technologies and laser accessories, while in terms of market sectors the Prisms’ scope now extends beyond conventional photonics applications to include emerging areas like virtual and augmented reality, robotics, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

To be considered for the Prisms, applicants’ products must be new to the market between January 2016 and 1 February 2018, although some exceptions may be allowed – contact the organizers for more details.

Short-listed companies can look forward to a gala black-tie dinner in downtown San Francisco on the evening of January 31, 2018, timed to coincide with the annual SPIE-organized Photonics West conference and technology exhibition.

Among the presenters handing out the Prism Awards at the dinner will be Hamamatsu CEO Akira Hiruma, Trumpf CTO Peter Leibinger, and Lockheed Martin executive turned venture capitalist Ray Johnson, now at Bessemer Venture Partners.

• For full information on the tenth edition of the Prism Awards, including how to apply, visit the dedicated awards web site.