ALPhANOV-PYLA wins the Prism Award for its Immersive Photonics Lab, in the "Software" category. In recognition of its new virtual reality innovation, ALPhANOV received a Prism Award in the most prestigious international competition for innovation in photonics technology. Considered the “Oscars of Photonics”, this competition is organized by SPIE and Photonics Media.

Developed by PYLA and its partners, the Immersive Photonics Lab is a virtual reality application designed for photonics training. Immersed in a virtual photonics laboratory, the learner develops the procedural skills necessary to master professional technical gestures that a company may need. This tool emulates all the equipment needed to train professionals and students, anywhere, anytime and without the risk of injury or damage to equipment. Innovative from both educational and technological standpoints, the Immersive Photonics Lab gives access to the latest generation of photonics equipment. It participates in the dissemination of training programs with particular focus on the shortage of skilled labor in the industry.

The advantages of this virtual reality technology are numerous:

• Enables distance learning.
• Ability to guide learners at a variety of skill levels.
• Adapts virtually to any photonics system.
• Limits equipment downtime for training.
• Reduces workplace risks for operators.
• Preserves optical and mechanical components.
• Facilitates training.

Immersive Photonics Lab is the successful outcome of an effort initiated in 2015 between ALPhANOV-PYLA, the University of Bordeaux and European partners (the Ecole Polytechnique (France), the University of Szeged (Hungary), Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (UK), the Extreme Light Infrastructure consortium).