SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and Laurin Publishing, publisher of Photonics Media, have named Luxtera’s “Blazar” entry as the overall best of show winner in the 2008 Prism Awards for Photonics Innovation, the premier competition for the photonics industry worldwide.Winners were announced last night at a banquet in the San José Convention Center held during SPIE Photonics West, the largest event in the field. The list of winners in all nine technical categories includes:• Aragon Photonics Labs, "BOSA-C Compact High-Res Optical Spectrum Analyzer" (Analytical, Test and Measurement)• NoblePeak Vision, “TriWave Camera” (Detectors, Sensing and Imaging)• Tessera, “OptiML WLC” (Optics)• Coherent, “OPSL 577-3 Solid-State Laser” (Lasers; Tie)• Daylight Solutions, “Broadly tunable, CW Mode-hop-free Laser System” (Lasers; Tie)• Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc., “Deep UV Light Sources” (Other Light Sources)• Luxtera, “Blazar” (Photonics Systems and Best of Show)• Princetel, “FP180 Hand Polisher” (Photonics Systems)• Solyndra, “Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System” (Sustainable/Green Technology)• JPK Instruments AG, “JPK NanoTracker” (Life Sciences).The Prism Awards, introduced for the first time in 2008, recognize the best in innovative technology within the multi-billion dollar business of optics and photonics. A distinguished panel of 28 independent judges, acknowledged as experts in their respective fields, selected the winners from more than 130 entries.“The successful launch of the Photonics Prism Awards demonstrates how committed we are to the future of photonics technology and its impact on the planet for years to come,” said Thomas Laurin, vice president of Laurin Publishing. “Response to the awards in the first year was very strong, and the products and processes submitted for review are world-class. They reflect both the leadership and expertise of the organizations in this field.” “These winning inventions demonstrate the remarkable creativity of the photonics community, the restless inventive energy that is what SPIE is all about,” said SPIE CEO Eugene Arthurs. ”I expect that many of these or their derivatives will be successful new products — the lifeblood of any company. They will help customers be more effective and so be a part of the great photonics enterprise that has already contributed so much to enhance our lives and that will play an increasingly important role in a sustainable future.”Information about participating in the 2009 Prism Awards for Photonics Innovation can be viewed online at www.prismaward.org, spie.org/photonics-west.xml and photonics.com.Laurin Publishing is located in Pittsfield, Mass., with additional offices throughout the world. Under Photonics Media, the company publishes Photonics Spectra, Biophotonics International, EuroPhotonics, The Photonics Showcase, The Photonics Directory, Photonics.com, The online Photonics Directory and several electronic newsletters, including: Planet Photonics, LEDs/Light Sources, Security, Remote Sensing and Vision/Imaging. For more information, visit: www.photonics.com.SPIE is the international optics and photonics society founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. Serving the interests of its more than 188,000 active constituents representing 138 different countries, SPIE acts as a catalyst for collaboration among technical disciplines for information exchange, continuing education, publishing opportunities, patent precedent, and career and professional growth. As the organizer and sponsor of approximately 25 major conferences and education programs annually in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific, SPIE provides publishing, speaking, and learning opportunities on emerging technologies. SPIE contributes more than $1.6 million annually in scholarships, grants, and other programs supporting research and education around the world. For more information, visit: SPIE.org. For more information about this year’s Prism Award winners, click here.