The entry deadline is fast approaching for the prestigious 2012-13 Prism Awards. The international competition, sponsored by Photonics Media and SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, honors new technology and product inventions from the multibillion dollar optics and photonics industry. The annual Prism Awards, now in its fifth year, boost visibility and credibility for companies with the most creative product inventions. All of the photonic products chosen as finalists are singled out as challenging conventional ideas, solving problems and improving life through the generation and harnessing of light. Products that have been sold, delivered or launched between Jan. 1, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2012, are eligible. Companies may enter one product for multiple categories or multiple products in separate categories. Entries are being accepted through the end of September. Categories include: Defense and Security Detectors, Sensing, Imaging and Cameras Green Photonics/Sustainable Energy Industrial Lasers Information and Communication LEDs and Other Light Sources Life Sciences and Biophotonics Manufacturing Optics and Optical Components Scientific Lasers Test, Measurement, Metrology Finalists for 2013 will appear in the January 2013 issue of Photonics Spectra magazine. (View last year's winners here) Winners will be announced Feb. 6, 2013, at a gala banquet held during SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco. The competition is judged by an independent panel of industry experts, including innovators from top companies, leaders in academia, business developers, previous award winners, financial experts and much more. The 2012-13 judges are: David Andrews, University of East Anglia Joel Bagwell, Edmund Optics Mark Bendett, Lockheed Martin Aculight Michael Bove, MIT Wellington Chadehumbe, Triumph Venture Capital (Pty) Ltd. Brian Culshaw, University of Strathclyde Marta de la Fuente, Indra Sistemas SA Donal Denvir, Andor Technology John Dexheimer, Private Equity Investing Jason Eichenholz, Ocean Optics Inc. Joseph Gortych, Opticus IP Law PLLC David Hardwick, Consultant Randy Heyler, Ondax Inc. Marc Himel, Jenoptik Optical Systems Ray Johnson, Lockheed Martin Corp. Wilhelm Kaenders, Toptica Photonics Kenneth Kaufmann, Hamamatsu Michael Lebby, Translucent Inc. Robert Lee, Intellectual Ventures Robert Lieberman, Intelligent Optical Systems Inc. Paul McManamon, Consultant and University of Dayton Marc Nantel, Research and Innovation at Niagara College Jim Pearson, University of Central Florida John Pellegrino, US Army Research Laboratory Jennifer Ricklin, Air Force Research Laboratory Ryszard Romaniuk, Warsaw University of Technology Laura Smoliar, Peppertree Engineering Inc. Ferechteh Hosseini Teherani, Nanovation Alastair Wilson, Photonics of ESP KTN The Prism Awards for photonics innovation were established by Photonics Media and SPIE in 2008. Photonics Media, a brand of Pittsfield, Mass.-based Laurin Publishing Co. Inc., publishes Photonics Spectra, BioPhotonics, EuroPhotonics, Photonics Buyers' Guide and Photonics.com. With a collective subscriber base of more than 150,000 worldwide and more than 4 million unique website visits per year, Laurin Publishing's Photonics Media products and publications lead the photonics industry with editorial excellence and integrity — fostering a tradition of innovation and progress by sharing knowledge, insights and visions for the future. SPIE is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. It serves nearly 225,000 constituents from approximately 150 countries, offering conferences, continuing education, books, journals and a digital library in support of interdisciplinary information exchange, professional growth and patent precedent. SPIE provided more than $2.7 million in support of education and outreach programs in 2011. For more information on the awards or to apply, visit: www.photonicsprismaward.com/application.aspx. To view videos of last year's finalists and winners, visit: https://www.photonics.com/PrismAwards.aspx