The Smart Optics Faraday Partnership award has gone to Sira Electro-Optics Ltd., the Mullard Space Science Laboratory and the UK Astronomy Technology Centre.

The grant provides £1.2 million from the UK Department of Trade and Industry, and access to £1 million from the Particle Physics and Astronomy and the Engineering and Physical Sciences research councils.

The partnership will promote "smart optics" technologies, which dynamically adjust to changing conditions. Among the potential applications are artificial eyes, giant telescopes, military imaging, high-speed communications links, ophthalmic instruments, semiconductor lithography and industrial laser systems.