Photonics21 Innovation Award
Strengthen Entrepreneurship in Photonics
Do you have an idea you’ve been developing — or a product in need of further refinement — with the potential to make a real-world impact and transform industries?
If so, this is your moment. Apply for the Photonics21 Innovation Award 2026 or encourage your talented colleagues to take the leap!
The award is open to PhD students, master’s students, young entrepreneurs, and makers who have an innovative photonics idea that could grow into a thriving business or groundbreaking product.
Exciting Prizes Await
1st Place:
- €5,000 cash prize
- Entrepreneurial skills training by PhotonHub Europe,
- Access to venture capitalists
- Entrepreneurial skills training by PhotonHub Europe,
- Application deadline: 2 April 2026
- Prize ceremony: 9 June 2026 (During the Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting, Brussels)
- Event information: https://www.photonics21.org/events-workshops/photonics-partnership-annual-meeting-2026
Submit your application by 2 April 2026 via the contest website:
Apply here: Don’t miss your chance to turn your photonics innovation into reality!
The Photonics21 Innovation Award 2026 is kindly sponsored by SPIE Europe and Hamamatsu.
Contact Swissphotonics
Dr. Christian Bosshard
Managing Director Swissphotonics
+41 79 405 1826
12 February 2026, Christian Bosshard
