SPIE Prism Awards

Eligible products must have a first commercial availability between October 2025 and September 2026. Commercial availability means the product was publicly launched and available to customers, or sold, shipped, or deployed in a paid commercial setting.

Acceptable documentation may include first-sale invoices or purchase orders, customer contracts, paid pilot agreements, launch announcements, press releases, or product webpages that clearly demonstrate commercial availability and include a verifiable publication or launch date.

Applicants are encouraged to redact confidential, proprietary, pricing, or customer-specific information before submission.

Documentation should reasonably substantiate the claimed first commercial availability date. SPIE may request additional information if eligibility cannot be verified.

Most applicants can complete the application in approximately 45–60 minutes if they have all required information and supporting documentation prepared in advance. The help streamline the process, application questions are available for download so responses can be prepared before starting the online application.

Yes. The application platform, SMApply, allows you to save your progress and return later. Applicants sign in using a SPIE account and can invite colleagues to collaborate on the application.

Applicants should be prepared to provide:

• A product description and key features
• Details about the core technical innovation
• Product architecture and design information
• Evidence of customer adoption and market traction
• Measurable impact or performance metrics
• Documentation supporting commercial availability

Strong applications typically include:

• Clear technical differentiation
• Quantifiable performance improvements
• Evidence of customer adoption
• Specific business, scientific, or societal impact
• Claims supported by metrics or evidence

Each product may be entered in only one Prism Award category. Companies with multiple eligible products should submit a separate application for each product.

No. A product may only be considered within a single core technology category.

SPIE reserves the right to determine the final category placement.

No. Patents are not required, but applicants are encouraged to reference them when describing the product's core technological breakthrough or novel concept.

Applicants should not submit information they are not authorized to share. By applying, applicants confirm they have the right to provide all submitted materials and consent to their review by SPIE and the judging panel.

Examples include:

• Performance improvements
• Cost savings
• Time savings
• New capabilities enabled
• Adoption or deployment metrics

Applications are evaluated by a panel of respected industry experts who assess each entry based on the information and supporting materials provided during the submission process.

Applicants that do not satisfy the proof-of-eligibility requirements may be deemed inelligble for award consideration.

A downloadable PDF of all application questions is available to help applicants gather information and prepare responses before starting the online application.