Recognising Pioneers in Spectral Imaging Applications
We mostly perceive the world visually, and naturally image sensors are the most successful sensing business globally. Now, if instead of capturing the usual red, green and blue bands, you can capture many more colors in every pixel of your image, you get the spectral data of the object recorded in that pixel. That spectral data in every pixel is what spectral imaging is about. This valuable data is exploited in a fast growing number of applications, in every field. This opens a new chapter in imaging, with a strong promise for the related business.
With hyperspectral cameras being more and more affordable, we can expect a wide adoption, empowered by the use of AI for data interpretation. These are pioneering times.
A bit of History
Talking about pioneering, the very early history of spectral imaging is often ignored.
Gabriel Lippmann, the Franco-Luxembourgish physicist, was indeed the first to record a spectral image in a camera. That is a photograph where the true spectrum of the objects is restituted when lit with white light. This process is known as interferential photography or Lippmann photography and uses photographic emulsions. Gabriel Lippmann got a Nobel prize for that achievement in 1908 on December 10th! Example here https://materiaux.sorbonne-universite.fr/le-projet-couleur/lart-de-geler-la-lumiere-lexposition/histoire-de-lart-les-photographies-de
Since 1908, the digital (hyper)spectral imaging market is growing fast and will explode with more affordable spectral cameras. A bit like the history of photography.
While we all contribute to provide amazing cameras, explore an infinite number of new applications in health, food safety, authentication, colorimetry, space exploration, Earth observation, agriculture, more sustainable mining, etc etc, let’s celebrate the #SpectralImagingDay on December 10 each year.
Gabriel Lippmann in his laboratory.
Who can win?
The criteria to be eligible to win the Lippmann Award are based on the past 12 months before the IEEE-Whispers event date.
The criteria are:
• The winner is an active player in the field, whether a company or a group of individuals carrying out real work.
• Be visionary and innovative
• Harness spectral imaging (hyperspectral or multispectral alike) to create real value and drive meaningful progress in the field — whether through new products, services, methods, or applications.
• Addressing the sustainable development goals is a plus
• Discovering and exploiting new use cases is a plus
• Have a company representative registered in the IEEE-Whispers event
The process
The team receives suggestions (please use the form on this website to submit proposal and the justifications). The winner is chosen a bit before the event and informed beforehand. The winning company representative is asked to prepare a small talk for the occasion.
The Team
If you have questions, contact us!
 | Philippe Monnoyer, Founder of the Lippmann Award, Industry Liaison for IEEE-Whispers philippe@philippemonnoyer.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/philippemonnoyer/ |
 | Jocelyn Chanussot, Research Director, INRIA, France Founder of IEEE-Whispers jocelyn.chanussot@inria.fr https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelyn-chanussot-31877030/ |
 | Wouter Charle Strategic marketing advisor Snapshot spectral imaging specialist https://www.linkedin.com/in/woutercharle/ |
| CEOs of former Lippmann Award-winning companies | |
| Jaime Zabalza, Senior Lecturer, University of Strathclyde, UK current year General chair of IEEE-Whispers |