The International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA) revealed the winners of its inaugural ‘Excellence in Optical Technologies Awards’ 2025 during a special ceremony held on 16 September at the Optical & Digital Document Security™ (ODDS) conference, Warsaw, Poland.
Sponsored by IOTA, the awards, which this year evolved from the longstanding ‘Excellence in Holography Awards’, now recognise achievements across a broader spectrum of optical security technologies (OSTs).
Awards were made in seven categories: Best Innovation in Optically Variable Technologies, Best Origination, Best Disruptive Technology, Best Integrated Technology / Best Document Security Application, Best Product Security Application, and Best Decorative / Packaging Product.
In addition, the Lifetime Achievement Award honoured individuals for their lifelong contributions to the advancement of holography, optical security, and the global fight against counterfeiting.
The winner was IQ Structures for Smart Mirrors – an innovation based on the principle of OVD kinoform structures, which utilises the ability to mathematically define the structure. The foundation lies in a mathematical formula for a diffractive lens, which enables the viewer to see a reduced direct reflection of themselves.
Smart Mirrors (© IQ Structures).
Wings for the Precious (© IQ Structures).
The joint winners were IQ Structures for Wings for the Precious, and Demax Holograms for the St George Icon, both of which demonstrate mastery in the art and science of optical origination.
Wings for the Precious shows impressive 3D achromatic effects with vertical and horizontal parallax, plus added diffraction.
The St George Icon project was based on the miraculous Phanuel Icon of St George the Victorious, which was developed as a prestigious gift for the Zograf Monastery and intended for representational and ceremonial purposes. The hologram depicts excellent control of the fringes to create subtle colours.
The winner was China Banknote Printing Technology Research Institute for Wireless- driven, ultra-thin, flexible OLED anti- counterfeiting components.
Based on flexible display technology and smartphone wireless communication technology, this element can be integrated into banknotes, passports, and product packaging to provide effective anti-counterfeiting protection for goods. When powered by a smartphone’s wireless reverse charging module, it achieves a luminous effect visible to the naked eye.
The key is integration, and the innovation shows the disruptive potential of OLED- based optical elements, opening new pathways for anti-counterfeiting strategies.
St George Icon (© Demax).
Beauty of LIfe house note (© Crane Currency).
The joint winners were Crane Currency for its Beauty of Life house note and IN Groupe for the Plasmogram™ Reverso Stripe on the polymer Philippines 500 piso banknote.
The Beauty of Life note moves with light, tells a story, and earns trust at a glance. The centrepiece of the note’s security is its most daring use of Crane micro-optics to date. MOTION SURFACE® is presented in a groundbreaking super-wide format to deliver vibrant, synchronised, multi- directional animation.
The Plasmogram Reverso stripe is the result of teamwork involving the central bank (Bangko Sentral ng Pililpinas), the substrate supplier, the printer and the technical and production teams of IN Groupe/SURYS. This advanced security element, developed by SURYS (an IN Groupe company), features a unique triptych of visual effects, offering distinct optical appearances from the front, reverse, and in transmitted light.
Unlike conventional foils or holograms, the Plasmogram™ Reverso delivers high-definition dynamic effects, including kinetic animations, depth, and colour- shifting features, which are seamlessly embedded into the clear window of the polymer substrate.
Both winning entries highlight how the integration of new generation optical technologies, micro-optics, and plasmonics is now enhancing the security and aesthetic value of banknotes and secure documents.
Plasmogram Reverso stripe (© IN Groupe).
Checkmyheat (© ARA Authentic).
The winner was ARA Authentic for Checkmyheat – a constantly warm, laser- marking and lighting-dependent colour- changing label based on a laser-treated PVD coating system.
The innovation features a laser coating that always remains a few degrees warmer than its surroundings, which shows special optical colour changes. For example, a PVD layer stack that appears blue can shift to bright yellow when illuminated.
These advanced PVD coatings are also available as labels, which serve not only as security features but also as effective information carriers.
The winner the ‘Firedancer’ Poster: Dave Matthews Band – a beautiful combination of holography and print from Hazen Paper, who always produces a knockout product.
The holographic effects work perfectly with the registered design. The nano wave optics were created in Hazen’s laser lab, then micro-embossed and transfer- metallised onto smooth-as-glass cover stock using Hazen’s environmentally friendly Envirofoil® and HoloJet® process.
The holography is created with an optical structure that is imparted on the surface of the paper (underneath the printed graphics) with an ultra-thin polymer layer that is less than 2 microns in thickness.
Firedancer (© Hazen Paper).
For the first time, the lifetime achievement award honoured three recipients.
Michael Boehm of Louisenthal and Dr Brian Holmes of De La Rue were recognised for their outstanding careers in optical security innovation, while Elisabeth Schulz, Principal Counterfeit Expert at the Counterfeit Analysis Centre (CAC), European Central Bank, was recognised for her lifelong contribution to the global fight against counterfeiting.
From 1996 to 2011, Michael led Louisenthal through a wave of innovation, creating features like Animat®, ColourShift™, RollingStar®, and varifeye® that continue to secure banknotes worldwide. He filed over 100 international patents, pioneered micromirror and holographic technologies, and introduced windows in banknotes to rival polymer. His leadership shaped today’s cost-efficient optical elements and inspired a new generation of technologists.
Brian Holmes’ career of over three decades has shaped the foundations of security holography, from early credit card and passport holograms to today’s advanced optically variable technologies.
With more than 80 patent families and 2,000+ holographic originations, he pioneered iconic features such as Spotlight™, PureImage™, Active™, and Kinetic StarChrome™. Renowned for bridging science, design, and engineering, he remains one of the world’s foremost leaders in optical security at De La Rue.
Elisabeth Schulz began as a forensic document expert with the German police before joining the ECB in 2000, where she led efforts against holographic counterfeits. She organised the first CAC Symposium in 2003, co-developed a hologram scanner in 2004, and built a comprehensive euro counterfeit hologram database. Her research, including her 2020 ODS paper, has advanced forensic science and left a lasting legacy in hologram analysis.
On the occasion, Dr Mark Deakes, Chairman, IOTA, said: ‘I would like to congratulate all the winners and also everyone who applied for these categories. The 2025 awards drew a highly competitive field of global entries, making it especially difficult for the judges to decide. The strength and number of submissions reaffirm the role of optical technologies at the forefront of innovation in authentication, brand protection, and packaging’.
There was a record number of entries for the awards – over 70 – and not only the winners, but other nominations too, will be covered in subsequent issues of Holography & Optical Technology News®.
Michael Boehm.
Brian Holmes.
Elisabeth Schulz.
