For the teams recognised in the Photonics Frontiers Award 2025, the impact extended far beyond the announcement itself. Winners and shortlisted entrants have described the competition as a valuable catalyst, raising the profile of their work, reinforcing credibility with key stakeholders, and prompting new commercial, academic and collaborative discussions.
With nominations now open for the Photonics Frontiers Award 2026, the experiences of last year’s cohort highlight the role that independent, editorially led recognition can play in supporting photonics organisations — from research teams to established companies — as they bring application-driven innovation to market.
That impact is best captured by the words of Jean-François Morizur, CEO of Cailabs, winner of the 2025 Photonics Frontiers Award.
He said: “We were honoured to be given the Photonics Frontiers Award. Electro Optics is bringing attention to the uses of laser light across the globe to solve real-world challenges, and that's hugely valuable. Many of the most exciting developments in the field are taking place far outside the lab.”
He highlighted how that spotlight matters as photonics technologies mature and move into deployment:
“Lasercom, for instance, is mature, commercially ready, and on the way to becoming a vital complement to radio in conflict zones and other areas where secure, rapid communication is paramount. That's just one example of how photonics is changing our world, and we're grateful to Electro Optics for spotlighting it.”
Raising the profile of emerging photonics innovations
For many shortlisted entrants, increased visibility was one of the most immediate benefits. Being featured in Electro Optics placed emerging technologies directly in front of a global audience of engineers, system integrators, researchers and decision-makers.
Karim Ruvalcaba-Perez of Friedrich Schiller University Jena described the award as “an excellent tool for scaling the project and capturing the attention of target audiences,” adding that it strengthened his professional network in the following months.
If you’re developing an emerging photonics technology, nomination offers a route to visibility among the audiences that can help it scale.
Driving commercial visibility and new opportunities
Commercial organisations reported similarly tangible outcomes. Yung Ming Liow of VBMB PTE LTD (V-BMB) noted that being shortlisted led to new enquiries and increased online engagement, while Mike Hardy of Smart Nano NI said the award “significantly boosted our visibility… positioning us as a prominent innovation hub in UK photonics and nanotechnology.”
Supporting collaboration between academia and industry
The benefits also extended to teams bridging academia and industry. Pola Goldberg Oppenheimer of the University of Birmingham explained that recognition elevated the visibility of their diagnostic platforms, strengthened credibility, and supported funding and partnership discussions.
Where applied photonics gains visibility, trust, and traction
Across sectors and applications, a consistent theme emerges: The Photonics Frontiers Award puts applied photonics innovations where the global community can see them, opens conversations that might not otherwise happen, and builds trust at critical stages of growth.
With nominations now open for Photonics Frontiers Award 2026, the message from last year’s winners and shortlisted teams is clear. If your work is delivering real-world impact through photonics — in sensing, imaging, communications, healthcare or beyond — this award can help turn innovation into momentum. Submit your nomination now.
