Photonics Innovation Awards

About the Awards

The Photonics Innovation Awards celebrate emerging innovators who use photonics to address real-world challenges. Held every two years, the Awards recognize projects that combine originality, technical relevance, and the potential for meaningful impact across industry and society.

 

Created by Hamamatsu Photonics, the Awards provide not only financial recognition, but also visibility and access to technical expertise to help promising ideas move closer to real-world application.

Who the awards are for

The Photonics Innovation Awards are open to:

  • Start-ups and small businesses
  • OEMs
  • Established industry players
  • Researchers and end-users

What the awards recognize

Eligible projects address real-world challenges using photonics technology. These may include:

  • New concepts or approaches
  • Further development of existing technologies
  • Solutions with clear technical, industrial, or societal relevance

 

Projects are evaluated on their originality, feasibility, relevance, and potential impact.

Award categories

The Photonics Innovation Awards recognize excellence across three categories:

 

Innovation (Photonics Innovation Awards)

Innovation

Projects introducing novel approaches or concepts that significantly differ from existing technologies.

 

Mobile Padding

Advanced Feasibility (Photonics Innovation Awards)

Advanced Feasibility

Solutions that demonstrate a high level of technical maturity and practical readiness for real-world use.

 

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Impact on Society (Photonics Innovation Awards)

Impact on Society

Projects addressing meaningful societal challenges, with potential benefits for areas such as healthcare, sustainability, or quality of life.

 

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Support beyond recognition

In addition to a €10,000 prize, winners receive one year of promotional support to help showcase their work to a broader audience.

 

Depending on the project, participants may also have the opportunity to engage with Hamamatsu’s Pilot Line services, which support feasibility assessment, system integration, and risk mitigation to help innovations progress toward market readiness.

Judging & selection

Projects are evaluated by a panel of Hamamatsu experts and industry specialists. Selection is based on:

  • Innovation and originality
  • Technical feasibility
  • Relevance and quality of the proposal
  • Market and application potential

 

Up to three winners are selected in each edition.

Looking Ahead

The Photonics Innovation Awards are held every two years. Information about the next edition in 2027, including categories and submission details, will be shared soon.




For more information, please contact us.