Manufacturer of optoelectronics and photonics technology Hamamatsu Photonics Europe has announced the return of the Photonics Innovation Award in 2027, with submissions open until 16 April 2027.
Held every two years, the award provides a platform for early-stage innovators, research teams, start-ups and small companies to gain visibility across the global photonics community, with a financial contribution towards further concept development and promotion of their company and technology.
Reasons for participation
The winning entrant will win a €25,000 prize, shared promotional activities across Hamamatsu communication channels and exposure at Laser World of Photonics 2027. They will benefit from industry recognition, partnership opportunities, and visibility across the global photonics community. Selected participants will also be able to explore potential pathways with Hamamatsu Photonics for further development of their concept.
What Hamamatsu is seeking
For 2027, Hamamatsu Photonics welcomes open, exploratory, and forward-thinking ideas involving photonics. Submissions may include new applications of photonics in emerging or unexplored areas, technical approaches that advance or challenge current methods, and concepts with the potential to contribute to future scientific or technological developments.
“Innovative ideas have the power to drive meaningful change,” said Andrey Voloshin, senior technologist and pilot line leader at Hamamatsu Photonics. “The Photonics Innovation Award provides promising photonics technologies with recognition, visibility, and support, helping early-stage innovations progress more quickly toward practical applications and end-user value.”
The award is open to small companies, start-ups, academic teams, researchers, and innovators. Applicants are encouraged to submit ideas from any field where photonics can contribute to solving challenges, creating new opportunities, or opening up new technological directions.
Submissions will be evaluated according to key criteria including innovation, feasibility, and impact. Hamamatsu Photonics is particularly interested in ideas that demonstrate originality, technical potential, and a clear explanation of how the concept could create value for future applications.
Applicants will submit their entry through an online registration form. Required information includes a project summary, a description of the idea, the relevant photonics elements or technologies involved, what makes the idea innovative, and information supporting the feasibility and potential impact.
The submission deadline is 16 April 2027.
Previous winners
The 2027 edition follows the success of the 2025 Photonics Innovation Award, whose winners were announced at Laser World of Photonics 2025 in Munich. The previous competition highlighted concepts spanning scalable quantum computing from ZuriQ AG and compact laser measurement system from Coher Sense, demonstrating the breadth of innovation emerging across light-based technologies.
For more information, visit the online Photonics Innovation Award 2027 hub and the Frequently Asked Questions page.
