Award Ceremony of the Photonics Frontiers Award @ Optatec 2026 | 6th May | 3:30 p.m. | Exhibitor Forum, Booth 625
On 6th May 2026, the prestigious PHOTONICS FRONTIERS AWARD 2026 will be presented at Optatec 2026 – an award that honours application-oriented photonics projects that solve real-world challenges and open up new markets. A recognition before a high-ranking European audience from the fields of photonics, optics and enabling technologies.
Warren Clark, CEO Europa Science Ltd
“We are delighted to partner with Optatec to showcase the innovations featured in our Photonics Frontiers Award programme at a special session on Wednesday 6 May. It is the perfect stage for Europa Science Ltd to reveal the winner of this prestigious award, which celebrates collaboration and innovation in photonics by focusing on “projects not products”.”
The award is hosted by Electro Optics – one of the leading international trade media brands in the field of photonics, with the Photonics100 Community at its core. Published by Europa Science Ltd, Electro Optics reports on current developments in science, industry and technology.
What can you expect?
The award showcases projects that use photonics in innovative ways and offer concrete technological solutions to real-world challenges, delivering tangible benefits for end users. The PHOTONICS FRONTIERS AWARD 2026 recognises developments that break new ground, inspire enthusiasm for technological innovation and shape the future of photonics. Awards will be presented to projects in the following categories:
- Biophotonics and medical applications
- Industrial imaging
- Industrial laser systems
- Optical communication and data transmission
- Quantum technologies and optical computing
- Sensor technology and measuring applications
- Defence / aviation and aerospace
By an outstanding expert jury:
- Alison McLeod, Technology Scotland
- John Girkin, Durham University
- Miles Padgett, Glasgow University
- Chris Yates, Vision Ventures
- John Lincoln, Photonics Leadership Group
- Ratna Reddy Chada, Cisco
- Antonio Castelo, EPIC
Join us at the award ceremony on 6th May at 3:30 p.m. in the exhibitor forum at Optatec 2026, Booth 625, and experience award-winning photonics innovations in direct exchange with the project managers. Take advantage of the event for targeted networking at the decision-maker and expert level, deepen your professional dialogue and establish reliable contacts for future collaborations and technology projects. Admission is free for trade visitors.
The 17th Optatec will be held in Frankfurt from the 5th through the 7th of May, 2026. It’s a highly established trade fair for optical technologies, bringing together suppliers and users from R&D, production and application at the highest level.
Spotlight on innovation: Special edition on the Photonics Frontiers Award 2026
Get exciting insights into all the nominated projects that are shaping the future of light technologies in the special edition of Photonics Frontiers Award 2026. Copies of the magazine will be distributed on site, and the Frontiers content is also available digitally.
Keep yourself well informed!
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