IN FOCUS: 2025 Industry Leader Award Trond Løke

By Joanne Van Voorhis

The IEEE GRSS established the Industry Leader Award to recognize individuals with sustained, high-impact leadership in the industrial or commercial realms of remote sensing, including technological innovation, product commercialization, and strategic influence within the field. The award is managed through a rigorous nomination and committee-review process. 

This year, the award was presented to Trond Løke for his pioneering work in hyperspectral remote sensing. He is celebrated for his more than two decades at Norsk Elektro Optikk (NEO) AS, focusing on its hyperspectral imaging brand, HySpex, which is focused on developing and disseminating advanced hyperspectral imaging system technology. While pursuing his M.Sc. in Photonics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trond carried out his final-year thesis at NEO. There, he designed NEO’s first hyperspectral imaging system alongside research scientist Ivar Baarstad, marking the early foundations of what would become the HySpex product line. For the last five years, Trond has served as Managing Director at NEO. 

Advances in Imaging Systems and Real-time Hyperspacial Mapping

Trond Løke’s pioneering contributions to hyperspectral remote sensing center on developing high-performance, real-time, and accessible imaging systems. Hyperspectral remote sensing is an advanced technology that collects and analyzes information from across the electromagnetic spectrum, capturing hundreds of narrow spectral bands to reveal details invisible to standard sensors. By providing a unique “spectral signature” for every pixel, it allows scientists and industry leaders to accurately identify materials, monitor environmental changes, assess crop health, detect minerals, and much more. Løke’s work through NEO and the HySpex brand has not only advanced hyperspectral imaging for scientific research, but also transformed how the technology is applied in real-world settings. 

Under his leadership, HySpex has developed a groundbreaking real-time solution that processes data directly from UAV platforms. This system goes beyond simple real-time analysis by precisely aligning visible and infrared sensors in 3D and in real time, enabling seamless data fusion across the full 400–2500 nm range. The result is a new level of geometric and spectral precision that was previously unattainable. This innovation makes it possible to generate actionable 3D insights instantly, with results delivered directly to users or autonomous systems. Such capabilities are especially critical in fields like environmental monitoring and defense, where rapid and reliable decision-making is essential.

Focus on R&D Leads to Real-World Industry Impact

NEO is recognized for its solid company structure, employing more than 75 people, with half dedicated to R&D. “This strong research focus has allowed the company to play an important role in major ESA, EU, and other international projects, making NEO an attractive SME partner for large-scale collaborations,” says Løke. “We have a long-term plan, which means we are willing to invest in high-risk R&D to bring new and innovative products to market,” he adds.

Over the past four years, HySpex has built a new business area in space and stratospheric platforms. In close collaboration with partners such as ESA, NASA, and USGS, the company has developed affordable, high-end solutions for a variety of new platforms. These initiatives are directly contributing to the advancement of future Earth observation missions from both the stratosphere and space. To support this work, NEO has invested in the infrastructure needed to serve this market, positioning itself as a reliable partner with proven multi-scale solutions.

Industry is Core Pillar of IEEE Ecosystem

“What makes this award especially meaningful is what it stands for: the vital role of industry in geoscience and remote sensing,” Trond explains. “IEEE GRSS is sending a strong message: industry is not just a support function; it’s a core pillar of the IEEE ecosystem. The tools we develop are foundational to academic research, and bridging those needs with real-world industrial capabilities is key to continued progress,” he says.

Indeed, the Industry Award was developed to give a strong voice to the achievements of those working in Industry. In his acceptance presentation, Løke explained that “hyperspectral imaging has grown from a niche research domain to a transformative technology for monitoring, decision-making, and understanding across hundreds, if not thousands, of different fields.” But for innovation to truly take off, Løke says, “people actually need to use the technology. That means making it easy to understand, accessible, and practical in real-world situations. And for academia to trust it, transparency is key! It can’t be a black box.” 

Award Significance and IGARSS Presentation

The GRSS Industry Award is a cornerstone of the IEEE GRSS Awards program. “It is important for GRSS to acknowledge high-impact and sustained contributions from the remote sensing industry sector, especially since significant work gets done in public-private partnerships in the space, earth observations, and related sectors,” explains IEEE GRSS Past President Alberto Moreira, who also has chaired the IEEE GRSS Major Awards Committee since 2017.

Recognizing his achievements, Trond Løke was formally presented with the award at the IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) in August 2025. He noted that the award highlights the vital role of industry in geoscience and remote sensing and is a testament to the hard work of his entire team at NEO. “While this is a personal recognition, it’s far from a solo achievement,” explains Trond, “this award is a reflection of the incredible work we’ve been doing as a team at Norsk Elektro Optikk AS and HySpex, in the field of hyperspectral imaging, for more than two decades. “It is the dedication, creativity, and hard work of the NEO team that makes our innovations possible.” He also acknowledged the Irma Salo Jæger and Tycho Jægers Foundation that owns NEO, which he says provides the group with the freedom to invest heavily in R&D and pursue bold, long-term ideas. “Without that support, we could not have built the visionary solutions that are now shaping the future of hyperspectral imaging,” he adds. 

Nominations Open until December 15 for 2026 Awards

Nominations for GRSS awards are now open to the global community. Most awards require initial nomination by an IEEE GRSS member through the Award Nomination Tool. The nominator typically needs to submit a package including a nomination letter, the candidate’s curriculum vitae (CV), and recommendation letters. Details about each award, including profiles of prior awardees and nomination guidelines are available online. If you know someone who has made a significant impact in the field of geoscience and remote sensing, please consider preparing or supporting a nomination.