SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. Serving more than 188,000 constituents from 138 countries, the Society advances emerging technologies through interdisciplinary information exchange, continuing education, publications, patent precedent, and career and professional growth. SPIE annually organizes and sponsors approximately 25 major technical forums, exhibitions, and education programs in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific.

In 2008, the Society provided more than $1.9 million in support of scholarships, grants, and other education programs around the world.

SPIE publishes the SPIE Digital Library, containing approximately 280,000 research papers from the Proceedings of SPIE and the Society's six scholarly journals, with around 18,000 new papers added each year. The SPIE Press publishes print monographs, tutorial texts, Field Guides, and reference books. SPIE also publishes a wide variety of open access content.

Membership includes Fellows and Senior Member programs. The Society has named more than 550 SPIE members as Fellows since 1955, and implemented its Senior Member program in 2008.

SPIE's Awards Program serves to recognize outstanding contributions from individuals throughout the scientific community regardless of membership status.