Photonics21 Innovation Award 2025 launched – apply now!

Date Announced: 21 Nov 2024

Düsseldorf, Germany -- Photonics21 has launched the Photonics21 Innovation Award 2025. This dedicated Innovation Challenge seeks to push for more entrepreneurship in photonics. The Award is aimed at PhD students, master students, young entrepreneurs, and makers alike who have an idea for a photonics product that can transform into a real business or product.

This idea can be already described in a Master or PhD thesis or in a business plan or the like. Any person active in the field of optics and photonics, may enter to be considered for the "Photonics21 Innovation Award". The deadline for applications is 15 March 2024.

The winner will receive a cash prize of €5000 as well as an entrepreneurial skills coaching, and contact with Venture Capitalists.. The second- and third-placed proposals will equally benefit from an entrepreneurial skills training by PhotonHub Europe.

The Photonics21 Innovation Award is a competition for business ideas at an early stage. It can be a simple thought, an idea you cannot get out of your head or an idea that you have been working with for a while.

Photonics21 aims to support talented makers, students, and young entrepreneurs, who have a real interest in developing an idea into a product by combining creativity with photonics. For making this support possible Photonics21 teams up with PhotonHub, the pan-European digital innovation hub for photonics.

To participate, entrants will need to send in a maximum two-minute video presentation of your concept, or a written description of your idea/ product making clear the nature of innovation and the potential impact to industry.

The conditions for eligibility are:

1. You have a product idea
2. OR a product to be developed further
3. The idea/product has potential for application in industry
4. The idea/product is innovative
5. The idea/product is presented in English
6. Submissions may be entered by individuals or teams
7. See full details online here

Applicants must submit the following materials, which serve as the criteria by which the work will be judged:

1. Make a short (less than 2 minutes) video that demonstrates the uniqueness of your idea and the added value it will have for integrators or end-users. Be creative and keep your message clear. Do not hesitate to use visuals or simulation to present your idea, prototype or product.
2. Upload the video in the application form below.

OR:

1. Send in a description of your idea/product not exceeding 4 A4 sides (12point font) making clear the:
   • Nature of innovation
   • Potential impact to industry
   • Next steps to market
2. Fill the application form below

This will be reviewed by a jury of experts. For more information on the contest, and to fill in the application form visit www.photonics21.org

Application deadline: 10 March 2025

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E-mail: secretariat@photonics21.org

Web Site: photonics21.org