SPIE Photonics Europe Innovation Village 2024

Introduction

Innovative researchers can apply for a complimentary “mini booth” in a special high- traffic section of Photonics Europe, as part of the Photonics Europe 2024 Innovation Village. The selected researchers will be located together with other product developers.

Purpose of the Innovation Village

• To support and publicise research teams from universities, non-profit institutions and research centres who are working on research, new applications and product development.
• To provide free exhibition space together with broad exposure and publicity to the young innovators who are developing the photonics- based products of the future.
• To showcase Europe’s (and the world’s) finest research programmes and to encourage the transfer of optics/photonics research and technology into new and useful products.

Benefits of participating in the Innovation Village

• The village will be open to all attendees to the Photonics Europe conference and the Photonics Europe exhibition, plus press and other officials – your product will obtain international visibility face to face.
• Press releases will be distributed to all industry publications and a description of all projects will appear on the SPIE web site.
• A special effort will be made to invite Venture Capital companies and being present in the Village will give you an opportunity to meet them.

Rules and conditions

• The village will include one panel for displays and explanations, a table and chairs.
• It is mandatory to display a prototype or demonstration; however, the demonstration does not need to be continuous. It is recommended to also supply English-language literature describing your product.
• Please ensure that you take out insurance cover for your products as appropriate. Your group will receive one complimentary technical pass to the Photonics Europe Conference.

Who can apply

The initiative can come from anyone active in the wide domain of photonics. There is no limitation on the number of team members, but three is the recommended number. Your team can be based anywhere in the world and can have affiliations and connections to other non-profit or profit making groups or companies.

You must have developed an actual product or have at least a prototype of the product which can be displayed in the Innovation Village. (Software for specific applications related to photonics is acceptable, as long as it can be demonstrated.)

Products which have been commercialized and are being currently sold or are on the market, will not be considered. Basic improvements on existing products will also not be considered.

You must be able to attend Photonics Europe and be present at your booth.

How to apply

Submit an application of no more than three pages:

• A description of your product or prototype or demonstration.
• A description of the photonics technologies involved with your product.
• A description of the purpose of the product and the potential market.
• A description of your institution, research centre or company, and the funding of the project, which led to your innovation.
• A description of the team itself, its members and their primary activity (student, grad student, professor, researcher, other).

Application for participation in the Photonics Europe 2024 Innovation Village should be sent to:

Mustapha Remouche
mremouche@unistra.fr
by 15 December 2023

Preliminary questions can also be forwarded to Mustapha Remouche.

The organizing partner will review all applications, after which they will select and invite teams. You will be notified regarding your invitation within 4 weeks after the submission of your application.

It is recommended to apply as soon as possible, as the available space is limited!

Awards

The Innovation Village Selection Committee will grant awards for the best technological innovation among the participants in the Innovation Village.

The committee will include:

• A representative from the European Commission Photonics Unit
• A representative from SPIE
• A representative of Photonics21
• Representatives from organising partner Université de Strasbourg
• A representative from a bank or venture capital company
• A representative from a large European photonics company

Award categories are as follows:
(1 winner, 2 runners-up in each category):

• Best innovation by an individual researcher
• Best innovation by a multilateral project, organisation, or company

Winners will receive an award of €1500. The first and second runners-up will each win €500.

The announcement of the winners in each category will take place at the Innovation Village on Wednesday, 10 April 2024. This announcement will be accompanied by a reception for the participants of the Innovation Village.