The BrightStar Awards program recognizes technology developers demonstrating excellence in serving the LED lighting community.

The BrightStar Awards is focused on ingenuity in products, addressing five key factors: performance, reliability, efficiency, ease of integration/use, and innovation.

Early Bird Deadline: December 29, 2023 

Early Bird Price: $495

Extended Entry Deadline: February 2, 2024

Regular Submission Price: $595

Sure it is an investment of time and effort to enter your product or service in the 2024 BrightStar Awards program, but it is time well spent. Below are just a few of the many benefits associated with entering this year’s reviews program.

BENEFIT 1: BE RECOGNIZED
Honorees have made a groundbreaking contribution to the to the solid-state lighting industry and are recognized as leaders and innovators to the largest collection of LED & lighting professionals, with coverage on www.ledsmagazine.com.

BENEFIT 2: INCREASE CREDIBILITY
Being an honoree is validation of your product or service from a credible third party to the LED industry. It’s a great way to reinforce the quality of your product or service to existing customers as well as potential customers.

BENEFIT 3: GAIN A SALES ADVANTAGE
Being recognized with a 2024 BrightStar Award is an additional tool for your sales team to use as part of their sales pitch. Companies recognized with this prestigious distinction can better compete for business as recognized honorees are less risky for potential customers.

BENEFIT 4: SET YOURSELF APART
Honorees rise above the competition and instantly tell the solid-state lighting industry their product has something unique and worthy of review.

BENEFIT 5: IT’S GREAT PR
Fully capitalize on your successful entry with announcements that grow your visibility in the industry. We even provide a press-release template to use to promote your honoree status.

BENEFIT 6: STOCK YOUR TROPHY CABINET
You’ll be able to use the 2024 BrightStar Awards logo on your website and marketing literature to reinforce your success.

How To Submit

Creating An Account

• Login or create your account here
• After you have created your account you’ll be prompted to submit your entry. Click here to begin your entry.
• If you are interrupted and don’t have time to complete your entry, it will be saved as IN PROGRESS until you have time to complete it. If you forgot your password, click “lost password.” Any required fields that are not filled in will be highlighted in red when you hit SAVE.
• When your entry is complete click ADD TO CART.
• At this point, you can either ENTER ANOTHER SUBMISSION or CHECKOUT.
• At CHECKOUT submit your credit card details and click PROCESS (Only click PROCESS one time!).

Submission Rates

• Early Bird Entry Rate: $495 per entry received on or pior to December 29, 2023
• Extended Regular Entry Rate (February 2, 2024): $595 per entry

Troubleshooting Your Electronic Entry

PROBLEM: I keep hitting SAVE but my entry is not saving.
Try This: Review your entry and confirm any required field is filled in or checked.

PROBLEM: I did NOT receive a confirmation email after submitting my entry.
Confirm you entered an accurate email address.
Confirmation emails are sent once payment is submitted.

Selection Process
Each BrightStar Awards entry should address the following:

• The impact your product/system/technology has on designers, systems integrators, and/or end users.
• How it fulfills a need in the market, increases productivity, leverages a novel technology, etc.
• The unique features of this product/system/technology as it compares to existing solutions.

Judges will review your entry based on the following criteria:

• Commercial availability (Product must be available on the market and released from May 2023 onward)
• Energy efficiency and/or sustainability
• Improvements to performance or features
• Value to the user
• How it enables emerging applications or advances existing applications

Make Sure to Include the Following in Your Judges Packet:

• Product specification sheets
• High-resolution images (3 max)
• IES files as available
• Video links as available
• End-user/integrator testimonials if available (may be anonymous)
• Please note: No more than 5 extra documents are allowed. Images and diagrams do not count toward your 5 documents.

We want your entry to be as powerful and impressive as possible. Here are a few tips that will let the judges see your entry in the most favorable light.

• Block time out on your calendar. Map out some time on your schedule so you can focus on your entry.
• Use specific, quantitative and instantly credible language. Avoid the urge to just copy and paste the text from your marketing collateral or website.
• Be sure to answer the following questions about the product. How does it help customers meet their objectives? How does it reduce installation or operational expenses? What are the unique features of this product as it compares to competing solutions? What makes it innovative?
• Get input from the technical/engineering team. Coworkers at your company can help provide specific examples on how the development impacts the LED and lighting applications community
• Download a preview of the entry form and compile your answers before completing the online entry. Once you’ve compiled your data review your draft and confirm it clearly demonstrates one of the following criteria: Originality, Innovation, Positive impact on the customer, How well it addresses a new or existing requirement, Novelty of approach, Cost-effectiveness.
• Back up your claims with supporting evidence such as charts, tables, or testimonials. Make it as easy as possible for the judges to look at your entry in the most favorable light.
• Call or email if we can help!

Submission Rates
Early Bird Entry Rate (ON or BEFORE December 29, 2023): $495 per entry
Regular Entry Rate (Final Deadline is February 2, 2024): $595 per entry

When do I need to submit my entry?
Early-bird entries are due December 29, 2023 and final entries are due February 2, 2024 before 11:59 PM EST .

Which products are eligible?
Products used in LED and lighting applications – or that are used in the design and/or production of such products – that have been either introduced or significantly upgraded between Feb. 1, 2023 and May 1, 2024 are eligible (and we understand that product launches shift after products are entered). Entries based on a product upgrade announced during the eligibility period should focus on the benefits of the upgrade.

What if my product won’t be announced before the deadline?
As long as it will be introduced by May 1, 2024, it still qualifies. (subject to change based on program year)

My product won’t be announced until after the January entry deadline. How do you ensure confidentiality?
Our judges, program director, and staff are under strict instructions not to share the details of unannounced products with their coworkers or anyone else. Additionally, we take pains to ensure in all cases that entries are not judged by employees of competitive companies.

Worried about non-disclosure agreements?
If you have an application that you would like to submit, but are worried that a non-disclosure agreement will prevent you from doing so, feel free to refer to the parties involved in general terms.

When will we find out if our product has been recognized?
Honorees for the program will be notified in May 2024.

Do you have a question about whether your product would be a worthy entrant, or where it might fit?
Reach out on questions like these and any other by contacting us.

Reference these examples in determining where your product submission fits into the LEDs Magazine BrightStar Awards program.

LED Light Sources

Includes packaged and chip-level LED devices, whether surface-mount, chip-on-board (COB), chip-scale package (CSP), or other technologies; mini and micro LEDs; OLEDs and panels for integration; modular LED light engines/arrays; tunable LEDs and light engines/arrays.

LED & SSL Components, Design Tools, and Materials

Includes power electronics/power supplies such as LED drivers; integrated circuits, microcontrollers, driver ICs, color sensors; optical materials/components such as optics, lenses, waveguides, and diffusers; interconnect technologies; thermal management materials and devices; assembly materials such as bonding agents, encapsulants, etc.; design, test & measurement tools such as software, spectrometers, goniometers, integrating spheres, metrology systems, etc.

Connected SSL, Software, & Controls

Includes lighting/system control software; commissioning tools; connectivity hardware; smart sensors (photosensors, occupancy sensors, environmental sensors), modules, switches, and other enabling technologies that feature in a larger wired or wireless networked lighting installation; fully integrated smart systems that deliver smart building/city applications such as indoor location/positioning services, asset tracking and control; dynamic lighting/shading systems, etc.

Indoor SSL

All LED fixtures, lamps, and luminaires rated and intended for indoor application only, commercial or residential. Includes architectural and indoor decorative products (linear cove, accent, and others) as well as task lighting, ambient lighting, troffers, pendants, downlights, etc.

Outdoor SSL

All LED fixtures and luminaires rated and intended for outdoor application only. Includes exterior area and street lighting, exterior architectural lighting, façade lighting, landscape lighting, pedestrian-scale lighting, wall-washers, etc.

Circadian Lighting Technologies

Includes lighting products and technologies developed to deliver features that support human circadian rhythms and wellbeing — dynamic spectrum, high light quality, low glare, variable light levels, meeting standardized metrics that certify outcomes for wellbeing in the built environment (WELL Building standard being one example).

Horticultural SSL & Controls Systems

Includes packaged LEDs that deliver wavelengths specifically designed to support plant health and growing operations; finished SSL fixtures for horticultural, agricultural, livestock, and cannabis operations; lighting product and control ecosystems that monitor and adjust light for programmed conditions.

LED-based Disinfection Technologies

Includes ultraviolet (UV) and visible-light LEDs and systems for air or surface microbial management/germicidal application or water purification.

Specialty SSL & System Technologies

Includes emergency SSL luminaires, modules, drivers, battery backup implementations that enable safe ingress/egress from a facility in case of power loss; LED fixtures/luminaires designed for use in harsh industrial conditions; machine vision/industrial inspection lighting; medical/life science research lighting; automotive LEDs, modules, SSL electronics, and sensors; and high-lumen-output lighting for sports, entertainment, and broadcast applications.