SPIE and Photonics Media Prism Awards Honor Photonics Innovations

During the online event, awards were presented to groundbreaking technologies and products in ten categories ranging from quantum and smart sensing, to life sciences and manufacturing

BELLINGHAM, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Earlier today, during the Prism Awards, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and Photonics Media recognized the top optics and photonics products on the market.

The 13^th annual ceremony – normally an invitation-only, black-tie affair held during SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco – was held online, streaming from the Prism Awards website. The virtual platform offered an opportunity to involve participants across the globe, while also flavoring the high-profile recognition showcase with an adventurous James Bond/Steven Spielberg/Indiana Jones accent. The 90-minute affair highlighted an exciting range of dynamic companies – from KYOCERA SLD Laser and nanoLambda, to Teledyne DALSA and Element Six – all of them applying innovative and creative solutions to critical problems in areas such as life sciences, smart sensing, transportation, quantum, and vision technology.

Each year, the Prism Awards reflect the latest exciting developments, exponential growth, and rich technical innovations across photonics and photonics-enabled industries. For consideration of this year's awards, SPIE received 149 applications from 18 countries. Finalists and winners were selected by a panel of international judges that included leaders from both the technology commercialization and funding sectors.

The distinguished presenters of the Prism Awards represented the best of the global photonics industry: Microsoft Senior Hardware Engineer Architect Maria Pace; GS1’s Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Rosalie Clemens; Lumentum’s Director of Product Line Management for 3D Sensing Matthew Everett; Raytheon Engineering Fellow Gerald Uyeno; the FDA’s Director of BioMedical Physics Division Zane Arp; Rutgers University Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Laura Fabris; Zemax CTO Sanjay Gangadhara; AegiQ CEO and Co-founder Maksym (Max) Sich; Photon etc., Business Development Director Marie-Christine Ferland; and MKS Instruments’ Spectra-Physics Senior VP and General Manager Dave Allen.

“It's always such a pleasure to recognize and celebrate our Prism Award winners, finalists, and applicants and particularly so this year, with its many challenges and changes,” said SPIE CEO Kent Rochford. “These scientists, researchers, and engineers are bringing key technologies and products to life, energizing the photonics market, and making a palpable impact on all of our lives.”

“The Prism Awards represent the highest honor the photonics industry can bestow,” said Photonics Media CEO Tom Laurin. “The pandemic challenged – and continues to challenge – the global economy. But the contributions from this year’s applicants go to show that no obstacle can stifle innovation. From all of us at Photonics Media, I’d like to congratulate the 2021 Prism Award winners. You’ve rightly earned your place at the vanguard of this industry.”

Below is the complete list of the award categories and the winners:

• Life Sciences: Augmentiqs Medical
• Manufacturing: Boston Micro Fabrication
• Medical Devices: Norlase
• Quality Control: Teledyne DALSA
• Quantum: Element Six
• Safety & Security: RaySecur
• Smart Sensing: nanoLambda
• Software: ALPhANOV
• Transportation: KYOCERA SLD Laser
• Vision Technology: WaveOptics

To find out more about the Prism Awards, please visit our website.

About Photonics Media

Photonics Media publishes print and digital business-to-business magazines, buyers' guides, websites, e-newsletters, books, webinars, conferences, and a podcast for individuals working with light-based technologies in the photonics industry. A pioneering publisher in the discipline of photonics, Photonics Media has built a large global audience comprising academics and researchers, manufacturers, and end-users. Over the past six decades, the company has fostered a tradition of innovation that has defined the industry. As its publications grow — following the technology into an ever-widening range of applications — the company adheres to a philosophy of editorial quality and integrity, maintaining an international reputation for leadership in photonics. www.photonics.com

About SPIE

SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves more than 258,000 constituents from 184 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2020, SPIE provided over $5 million in community support including scholarships and awards, outreach and advocacy programs, travel grants, public policy, and educational resources. www.spie.org.