The work entitled “Buried Graphene: Unlocking High-Performance On-Chip Near-Infrared Photodetection,” coordinated by Maurizio Casalino, has been awarded the Best Paper Award at the 14th International Conference on Photonics, Optics and Laser Technology (PHOTOPTICS 2026), held in Marbella (Spain) from March 6 to 8, 2026. The contribution was selected from over 70 submitted papers, highlighting its scientific relevance and high level of innovation. CNR-ISASI researchers Mariano Gioffrè, Mario Iodice, and Giuseppe Coppola took part in the activity. A significant role was played by Dr. Teresa Crisci from the Department of Engineering at the University of Naples Federico II, whose contribution was crucial for the development and experimental validation. The work also benefited from the collaboration of Prof. Luigi Moretti from the Department of Physics at the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli.” The research led to the development of innovative photonic devices based on “buried” graphene embedded within silicon waveguides. The obtained results show record efficiency values of 1.9 A/W at 1550 nm in the field of near-infrared photodetection. This approach overcomes some limitations of conventional architectures, opening new perspectives for the realization of high-performance photonic components, including those for single-photon detection. These results are situated within the context of advanced photonic technologies, a key element for the development of optical telecommunications—both conventional and quantum—as well as for the realization of next-generation integrated systems, areas of primary importance for the international scientific community.