The search is on for the best in commercial optical security technologies with entries open for the first ‘Excellence in Optical Technologies Awards’.
Recognising advancement and technical achievement in technologies such as holography, micro-lens arrays, micro-mirrors, plasmonics, nano-gratings, colour change, caustics, polarisation, photonic crystals, special print-generated effects, or a combination of all of these, the awards are organised by the new global trade body, the International Optical Technologies Association (formerly the International Hologram Manufacturers Association).
This year, they will be presented for the first time at the inaugural Optical & Digital Document Security Conference, which takes place from September 15 – 17 in Warsaw, Poland.
Involving delegates from suppliers, manufacturers and users from around the world, the awards recognise outstanding achievement and progress and mark those who have been at the forefront of some of the most significant sector developments in recent times.
They reflect innovative or commercially viable optical security products or techniques which have been introduced or launched since September 2023. Any company or individual is eligible to enter the award categories covering:
Innovation in Optically Variable Technologies
- Best Origination
- Best Disruptive Technology
- Best Integrated Technology / Best Document Security Application
- Best Product Security Application
- Best Decorative/Packaging Product
In addition, a Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the individual who has made a special contribution to the industry over the whole of their career.
The closing date for nominations is August 8 and entries will be judged by a panel of experts in authentication, design and optical security including the IOTA Board.
Dr Mark Deakes, chair of IOTA, said: “These first awards are set to celebrate the best in optical security achievement and the remarkable innovations the sector produces annually. Creativity, design and application innovation will undoubtedly be reflected in the first crop of entries, reinforcing optical security technologies’ role at the forefront of international authentication and brand anti-piracy.”
Those involved in a project can enter while others can nominate optical solutions projects for an award if they provide details of the user or producer of the technology. More information at https://iot-association.org/excellence-in-optical-technologies-awards/ while the link to the nomination site itself is https://iota.awardsplatform.com/
