Hamamatsu Photonics launches Photonics Innovation Awards
With winners receiving €10,000, promotional support, and access to Hamamatsu’s pilot line service, the company hopes the new awards will inspire, support, and help bring to market novel ideas that use photonics to solve societal challenges
Hamamatsu Photonics, a global photonics technology and products provider, has announced it is launching the Photonics Innovation Awards – an initiative that aims to foster innovation through concepts that leverage photonics technology across diverse industries and potentially turn them into market-ready solutions. With a history of over 70 years, Hamamatsu says it is committed to promoting advancements in photonics – one of the technological cornerstones of modern technology. The Photonics Innovation Awards seek to inspire, support, and bring to market groundbreaking ideas that can make a significant impact on society.
“Light has always played a crucial role in our lives, but never before have we harnessed its potential to this extent,” said Luigi Ghezzi, technical marketing engineer at Hamamatsu. “From telecommunications to advancements in healthcare and even in the emerging field of quantum optics, photonics is pivotal in driving modern innovation. Now is the ideal time to stimulate, promote, and support these innovations through our awards programme.”
The awards are open to a broad audience, including start-ups, original equipment manufacturers, and established industry players. Hamamatsu emphasises that is values diversity in ideas and recognises that transformative concepts can emerge from any source. “We aim to leverage advanced photonics technology, and we welcome product or solution proposals that focus on innovation, relevance, and community impact,” added Luigi.
Participants are encouraged to propose solutions addressing critical challenges within any sector, including sustainability, healthcare, and autonomous driving. Hamamatsu believes that innovation can take many forms and is open to a wide range of submissions with the potential to deliver societal benefits.
The winners of the Photonics Innovation Awards will receive a €10,000 cash prize and one year of promotional support to help develop their projects. Additionally, Hamamatsu says the winners will gain access to the company’s pilot line service, which will ensure they receive technical assistance and guidance throughout their project development, from identifying business models and connecting with potential partners to prototyping and mass production.
Submissions will be based on the degree of innovation involved, the relevance and impact of the project for societal needs and challenges, and the feasibility of implementing the project. Additionally, the quality of the materials and components proposed, and the project’s viability in terms of market demand and commercial success will also be considered.
Applications must be submitted by 8 April 2025, and winners will be celebrated at Laser World of Photonics 2025, set to take place in Munich in June.
