Light-based technologies have unarguably reshaped our societies, with groundbreaking applications in medicine, communications, aerospace, automotive, electronics - the list goes on.
At a time when developments and innovations in photonics take place at such a rapid pace, Hamamatsu Photonics is launching an initiative to uncover and support photonics innovations. The company's inaugural Photonics Innovation Awards are designed to represent more than just a competition, rather, they are the next stage in its efforts to strategically unearth the untapped potential of light-based technologies across diverse industries.
Luigi Ghezzi, Technical Marketing Engineer at Hamamatsu
Luigi Ghezzi, Technical Marketing Engineer at Hamamatsu explains: “It’s our history, we have become used to being innovators, to supporting our customers, and understanding their needs. This is the next step. Photonics and Innovation are two pillars for Hamamatsu Photonics. We developed and produced optoelectronic components for more than 75 years, we re-invest at least 6% of our yearly revenue into research and development and we are proud to have contributed, with our products, to three Nobel Prize-winning research projects.”
What are the Hamamatsu Photonics Innovation Awards?
The Innovation Awards are designed to help start-ups, OEMs, researchers, and even established industry players address critical challenges and make a lasting impact in photonics technology development for real-world applications. Innovators in this audience are invited to submit proposals that harness photonics to tackle today’s pressing issues and make a real difference. Their ideas could be developed to their full potential.
The entrants with the winning project will receive a €10,000 cash prize, presented in June at Laser World of Photonics in Munich. They will also receive one year of promotional support from Hamamatsu Photonics, and, depending on the application, the chance to collaborate with Hamamatsu's Pilot Line service to bring their concept from a prototype to a market-ready product with guidance and support.
The closing date to submit applications is April 8, and participants can do so by filling in a form hosted on Hamamatsu’s website.
Why now is the time for the Photonics Innovation Awards
For Hamamatsu Photonics, now is the perfect time to launch such an initiative, as Ghezzi explains: “Light has always been an essential part of our lives, but never have we harnessed and used it as extensively as we do today. Many everyday actions and operations - often taken for granted - are made possible by photonics.”
The most obvious example here is the impact of smartphones and devices. Photonics underpins vital advancements in telecommunications that connect the world, not to mention breakthroughs in medical diagnostics and treatments, including precise surgical interventions, and significant progress in industrial applications.
“This list barely scratches the surface,” says Ghezzi. “Photonics is expanding into emerging fields such as agriculture, offering transformative solutions. It plays a pivotal role in what many are calling the next scientific revolution: Quantum Optics. And we are going deeper, using photonics every day to provide added value. We see how we can support new fields such as agriculture, to help provide more good food to support the population.”
With this potential, Ghezzi believes there has never been a better time to inspire, support, and explore all possible innovations in the field of photonics. He says: “The opportunities are vast, and the future is brighter than ever.”
What distinguishes an award-winning idea?
The aim of the Photonics Innovation Awards is to leverage advanced photonics technology by developing a project that addresses real-world challenges. Ghezzi reveals: “We will evaluate different criteria such as Innovation, Relevance and Impact of the idea, but we will also evaluate the quality of the material submitted, the feasibility and the potential market of the project. We are looking for ideas that solve issues in a better way than currently. Not only the idea, the quality of the idea, but the business plan, the overall project.”
The awards are open to a broad audience, including start-ups, OEMs, and established industry players, and this is very much by design. Says Ghezzi: “Ideas are good regardless of their origin. Our customer portfolio is very diverse and includes both researchers and start-ups as well as OEMs or established industrial players to whom we offer not only customised solutions but also full support for the integration and use of our products. For this reason, it was natural to offer participation in this competition to a broad audience. We want to find the idea, ideally at the start up stage, but we are open to industry partners with projects that are not already released.”
In terms of the award topics or categories, this too is broad, as long as the projects are not yet in the public domain. Of particular interest are those which can benefit communities. Ghezzi explains: “Our mission is to benefit society by developing technologies that capture, measure, and generate various types of light. For this reason, we did not want to create specific categories or direct the competition towards specific areas of interest. According to Hamamatsu, ‘Light is possibility itself.’ We value all ideas related to projects that aim to generate added value. Sometimes, however, this added value might not be immediately obvious. Take autonomous driving as an example . While it may not initially seem like a community benefit, its potential to reduce accidents, alleviate stress, and optimise resource consumption makes it a transformative technology that can significantly enhance people’s lives.”
Likewise, with consumer electronics, consumers are particularly interested in the best display or image quality, but as Ghezzi says: “Everybody talks about smartphone images, but if you’re lost, these devices can help there too.”
Hamamatsu Photonics is therefore calling for people to submit applications, regardless of the sector or area of focus. “What truly matters,” says Ghezzi, “is the strength of an idea and its potential impact on the community. The presence of our products in various fields and applications shows photonics is present everywhere, so we expect that the ideas will also be applied in different markets and applications without a predominant theme.”
The prize and benefits to applicants
As previously mentioned, the winning project will receive a €10,000 prize, plus one year of promotional support from Hamamatsu Photonics. Winners could also develop their prototype into a market-ready product through Hamamatsu's Pilot Line service.
Says Ghezzi: “It’s easy to apply for the award, and ideas will be accessible via Pilot Line. Through Hamamatsu's Pilot Line service, we provide not only the technical feasibility of the project, but also our support for the development of the entire project. For example, we can support customers in selecting the right business model or help identify any necessary partners. By participating in the Photonics Innovation Award, the project will have a direct access point to evaluation for the Pilot Line service.”
The promotional support features inclusion within Hamamatsu’s communication on social media and newsletters, external media or similar. There is also the possibility of joining shows, exhibitions, or conferences at the Hamamatsu booth. Ghezzi says: “We would consult with the winners, as all applicants will want different things. It’s a good way to highlight the winners, with collaborations at shows and conferences. We hope applicants see the benefit of being associated with Hamamatsu Photonics, a company proud to have contributed to Nobel prize-winning research.”
Looking to the future of photonics
When it comes to the impact of the Photonics Innovation Awards on the industry as a whole, the vision and aim are clear. Says Ghezzi: “We believe there are countless innovative ideas in the field of photonics that remain undiscovered, stowed away in the minds or drawers of their inventors due to a lack of time, funding, or opportunities. Our mission is to support these ideas and provide them with the platform and resources needed to bring them to life. Moreover, we aim to inspire the creation of even more groundbreaking concepts, encourage fresh approaches, and drive solutions to unresolved challenges using the immense potential of photonics. We don’t just manufacture products, we encourage new ideas to support our community.”
This is the first edition of the Photonics Innovation Award, but the plan is for it to become a regular event. Continues Ghezzi: “Our idea is that through these initiatives such as the Award and the Hamamatsu Pilot Line service, combined with the merits that our customers already recognise in us and the quality of our products, Hamamatsu can continue to lead innovation in the field of Photonics, to be able to offer its potential at the service of the community.”
The biggest piece of advice Ghezzi can offer potential applicants is to go for it! He says: “Don’t be shy about the idea that you have. Just apply, don’t worry. History is full of ideas that seemed like failures and then turned out to be brilliant. Often, an outside perspective can be needed to help ideas come to fruition, so I hope my answers have encouraged people to participate in the Photonics Award. Regardless of whether you participate, I look forward to seeing you at the award ceremony, which will be held at the Laser Show 2025 in Munich. I invite you to follow us on LinkedIn or sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on the award ceremony and all Hamamatsu Photonics news.”
