The Photonics Frontiers Award 2026, delivered by the team behind Electro Optics, is set to benefit once again from the expertise of two highly respected figures in the global photonics community. We are delighted to confirm that Antonio Castelo of EPIC and Alison McLeod, Director of Photonics Scotland at Technology Scotland, will return to the judging panel for the 2026 award.
Both judges played a key role in the success of previous Photonics Frontiers Award, bringing deep technical knowledge, industry insight and a clear passion for applied photonics. Their return underlines the award’s continued commitment to rigorous, independent judging by leaders who understand both the science and its real-world impact.
Antonio Castelo, Technology Expert for Bio-Medical and Laser Technologies at EPIC, is a familiar face at major photonics events worldwide and a trusted voice on emerging laser applications and industry trends. Alison McLeod brings more than two decades of experience spanning academia, industry and innovation support, and continues to champion collaboration and sustainability across Scotland’s photonics ecosystem.
Designed to celebrate the most impactful applications of photonics, the Photonics Frontiers Award 2026 shines a spotlight on technologies that are solving real problems and opening new markets—from lasers and spectroscopy to sensing, environmental monitoring and beyond.
With expert judges like Castelo and McLeod once again on board, entrants can be confident their work will be assessed by people who truly understand what it takes to turn photonics innovation into measurable impact.
We’ve extended the deadline for Photonics Frontiers Award 2026 entries — but this is the final extension. New deadline: 27 February 2026.
