Nominations for 2026 Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award is officially open, inviting groundbreaking technologies and solutions to step into the spotlight and be recognized for driving meaningful impact in connected industries.

Named in honor of Joseph C. Belden, a visionary who helped shape early telecommunications and connectivity, this award celebrates innovations that push the boundaries and power of the future. With more than 120 years of heritage behind it, the program promotes advanced technologies in sectors, including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, telecommunications, and more.

Learn more and start your submission here.

What’s new in 2026?

This year’s award has an expanded focus on IT/OT convergence, recognizing solutions that bridge the gap between information technology and operational systems — a critical frontier in modern industrial and business innovation.

Finalists and winners will receive visibility among industry leaders, networking opportunities, and tailored co-marketing support to raise the profiles of their solutions. Previous honorees include companies that deliver fault-tolerant computing and agent AI platforms that transform operations at scale.

Who is eligible

To be eligible, nominees must be from small or medium-sized companies (less than $500 million in revenue) with products launched after July 1, 2024, and have at least one customer deployment. Submissions are reviewed by a panel of industry expert judges, and finalists will be announced in April.

The deadline is coming up in a few days

The nomination deadline is February 13 — don’t miss this opportunity to shine a spotlight on the innovations that are shaping what’s next. Learn more and submit your nomination on the award’s official portal.