2022 SPIE and Photonics Media Prism Awards Celebrate Innovative Photonics Technologies

At a gala reception, awards honored technologies and products in 10 categories from quantum, lasers, and biomedical devices to autonomous vehicles and augmented and virtual reality

BELLINGHAM, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Earlier this evening, following a festive reception during SPIE Photonics West, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and Photonics Media recognized the top optics and photonics products on the market with their industry-focused Prism Awards.

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. In addition, the 2021 Prism Award winners of last year’s virtual ceremony were recognized in person at the beginning of the program.

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 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."

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

• 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
• Software: Zemax

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, webinars, virtual conferences, and podcasts 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, the international society for optics and photonics, brings engineers, scientists, students, and business professionals together to advance light-based science and technology. The Society, founded in 1955, connects and engages with our global constituency through industry-leading conferences and exhibitions; publications of conference proceedings, books, and journals in the SPIE Digital Library; and career-building opportunities. Over the past five years, SPIE has contributed more than $22 million to the international optics community through our advocacy and support, including scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, endowed gifts, and public-policy development. www.spie.org.