BTG Inc. of Fairfax, Va., and INO of Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada, have allied to explore the commercial application of photonics technology. INO will have access to BTG's expertise in intellectual property and technology transfer, while BTG will benefit from INO's ability to assess, prototype and deliver the technology to industries. The collaboration marks a shift beyond telecommunications to fiber optics, applied optical systems, micro-optics and -systems, and laser and optical communications for such industries as security, aerospace, forestry, manufacturing, biophotonics and transportation.