Innovative Photonics Products Selected as Finalists for 2026 SPIE Prism Awards

Winning companies will be announced at SPIE Photonics West for new products in areas that include quantum tech, biophotonic instruments, and lasers, as well as the Catalyst Award

BELLINGHAM, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The best new photonics products have been named finalists for the 2026 SPIE Prism Awards. The 24 products – by companies ranging from emerging innovators to industry stalwarts – selected in eight categories, will be honored during a 21 January gala evening at SPIE Photonics West. The annual event, which will be celebrating its 18^th year, recognizes commercialized innovation in photonics, honoring companies that are bringing transformative products to market.

Rapidly developing technology areas such as biophotonic instruments, lasers, quantum tech, and sensors showcase the range and variety of this year's entries and finalists. Newer companies such as Momentum Optics and Phlux Technology, previous SPIE Startup Challenge finalists Ki3 Photonics Technologies, and 2022 SPIE Startup Challenge winners Vitrealab will compete for Prism honors alongside more established companies such as ams OSRAM, 4D Technology, and TOPTICA.

This year, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, will celebrate its third annual SPIE Catalyst Award. This recognition honors for-profit companies with specific social or environmentally focused programs that have had significant positive impact, either within their workplace, on society at large, or on the environment. Finalists for this year’s Catalyst Award are Cerca Magnetics and PicoQuant GmbH.

“The Prism Awards ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the impact that optics and photonics technologies have on our lives,” says SPIE CEO Kent Rochford. “For SPIE, it’s an honor to recognize the scientists, engineers, and companies who are working so hard to bring these products to market, and I’m looking forward to congratulating all the finalists and winners at our celebration at Photonics West in January.”

The Award finalists and their competing products and programs:

Biophotonic Instruments

• DoseOptics LLC, BeamSite
• Helix Surgical, Rx
• Ramona Optics, Vireo

Cameras and Imaging Systems

• Cubert GmbH, ULTRIS XMR Hyperspectral Camera
• HP Inc., HP Z Captis
• Metalenz, Polar ID

Lasers

• Cailabs, CANUNDA-USP PureBeam
• IPG Photonics, YLR-8000-SM
• VALO Innovations GmbH, Hübner Photonics, VALO Tidal-75-1-1100

Optical Materials and Components

• Momentum Optics, Momentum
• Seagate Technology, HAMR Hard Drive
• Silanna Semiconductor, Firepower SL2001 Laser Firing System

Quantum Tech

• CPI TMD Technologies Ltd, gMOT
• Ki3 Photonics Technologies, Ki3 PHASE.FIX
• TOPTICA Photonics AG, TOPTICLOCK

Sensors

• ams OSRAM, TMF8829
• NAMUGA and Lumotive, Stella-2
• Phlux Technology Ltd., Aura Noiseless InGaAs® APD

Test and Measurement

• 4D Technology, 4D InSpec SR
• Gamma Scientific, 191 AR Coating Reflectance Measurement System
• PI (Physik Instrumente), PINovAlign42

XR Tech

• Eulitha, PhableS
• LightTrans International GmbH, VirtualLab Fusion
• Vitrealab, Quantum Light Chip

Catalyst

• Cerca Magnetics, Quantum OPM-MEG for Autism
• PicoQuant GmbH, Shaping the Future of Photonics

For more information on the Prism Awards, please visit the SPIE website.

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, we have invested more than $26 million in the international optics community through our advocacy and support, including scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, endowed gifts, and public-policy development. www.spie.org.