The Institute of Physics (IOP) has recognized two UK photonics companies with its Innovation Awards. Meanwhile, the organization awarded the Born Medal to Dr. Andrea Cavalleri for his studies of photoinduced phase transition in correlated electronic materials. Cavalleri is a physics professor at the University of Oxford and the University of Hamburg, where he is also managing director of the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter. Gooch & Housego of Ilminster, England, received an Innovation Award for the development of a fiber-coupled acousto-optic modulator. The Fiber-Q is able to directly control the temporal characteristics of the active output from the fiber laser with more flexible choice of pulse form for applications including lidar, materials processing, medical laser systems, microscopy and security sensing. Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd. of Glasgow, Scotland, received the award for developing and commercializing novel mid-infrared LED and photodiode detectors tuned to gas absorption wavelengths without needing an additional optical filter. Applications include industrial safety, building control, horticulture and rebreathing apparatuses. For more information, visit www.iop.org, www.goochandhousego.com and www.gassensing.co.uk.