SPIE Announces Prism Awards Finalists
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, has named finalists for the 2026 Prism Awards. The 24 products — from companies ranging from emerging innovators to industry stalwarts — selected in eight categories, will be honored during a Jan. 21 gala evening at SPIE Photonics West. The annual event, which will be celebrating its 18th year, recognizes commercialized innovation in photonics, honoring companies that are bringing transformative products to market.
The 2026 SPIE Prism Awards will honor companies for breakthrough photonics innovations. The awards, presented in a ceremony at Photonics West, will recognize awardees in eight categories. Courtesy of SPIE.
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 award finalists and their competing products and programs, by category:
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
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