ACADEMIA
Luxtera Wins 2007 CONNECT Most Innovative New Product Award
Awarded top honor for communication technology innovation: Luxtera, the world leader in CMOS Photonics, has announced it was named the winner of the 2007 CONNECT Most Innovative New Product (MIP) Award in the Communication Technology and Hardware category. Having recently won the AeA High Tech Award, this is the second honor for Luxtera, positioning the company as a recognized leader for technology innovation. 
Celebrating its 20th year, the CONNECT MIP Awards recognize companies that contribute to economic development in the greater San Diego area. All finalists were judged for the vision, exemplary technical innovation, and perseverance that transform ideas and technologies into commercial products. Selected from numerous cutting-edge companies, Luxtera distinguished itself from the competition due to its ability to successfully overcome the complex technical obstacles involved with integrating high-performance optics directly with silicon electronics on a monolithic CMOS chip. The result is the ability to bring direct “fiber-to-the-chip” connectivity enabling low cost optical transceiver products targeted for the communications and consumer markets. “Luxtera is an example of the high-caliber companies that fill the San Diego area,” said Duane Roth, CEO of CONNECT. “We are proud to honor Luxtera for leading the way with its innovations and bringing to market the world’s first CMOS Photonics product, years ahead of the closest competition. This is the spirit of innovation that drives product development and is exactly what we look to recognize with the MIP award.” “This is the second award Luxtera has received for its innovation and contribution to the Southern California region,” said Marek Tlalka, vice president of marketing for Luxtera. “To be recognized by CONNECT, and previously by the AeA, is an honor – and one that acknowledges remarkable technological breakthroughs achieved by our team.”
Celebrating its 20th year, the CONNECT MIP Awards recognize companies that contribute to economic development in the greater San Diego area. All finalists were judged for the vision, exemplary technical innovation, and perseverance that transform ideas and technologies into commercial products. Selected from numerous cutting-edge companies, Luxtera distinguished itself from the competition due to its ability to successfully overcome the complex technical obstacles involved with integrating high-performance optics directly with silicon electronics on a monolithic CMOS chip. The result is the ability to bring direct “fiber-to-the-chip” connectivity enabling low cost optical transceiver products targeted for the communications and consumer markets. “Luxtera is an example of the high-caliber companies that fill the San Diego area,” said Duane Roth, CEO of CONNECT. “We are proud to honor Luxtera for leading the way with its innovations and bringing to market the world’s first CMOS Photonics product, years ahead of the closest competition. This is the spirit of innovation that drives product development and is exactly what we look to recognize with the MIP award.” “This is the second award Luxtera has received for its innovation and contribution to the Southern California region,” said Marek Tlalka, vice president of marketing for Luxtera. “To be recognized by CONNECT, and previously by the AeA, is an honor – and one that acknowledges remarkable technological breakthroughs achieved by our team.”