Synoptics Honoured with Major SMART Award To Help Fund Development of a New Biological Imaging System

7th November 2002. Cambridge, UK: Synoptics, a world leader in developing and manufacturing innovative digital imaging solutions for scientific applications, is pleased to announce it has accepted a substantial SMART Award, to develop a new imaging system, which could revolutionise a specific area of biological research. 

The SMART grant will help develop a novel product that will fit well alongside existing ranges available from Synoptics’ imaging divisions. Syngene, Synoptics’ largest division offers advanced systems for analysing and documenting information from DNA and protein gels. Synbiosis and Syncroscopy, the Company’s other divisions, specialise in innovative digital imaging solutions for microbial and microscopy applications respectively. 

The innovative products so far developed by Synoptics were driven by end-user needs and are based on the Company’s powerful, proprietary image processing and analysis algorithms. All offer high levels of automation and integration, to provide complete solutions from data to printed report. This new imaging system will allow Synoptics to enter a new market area and will be constructed according to these same fundamental principles. 

Phil Atkin, Synoptics Managing Director said: ”We are thrilled to be awarded such a large SMART grant, especially coming so soon after being included in the prestigious Sunday Times Arm Tech Track 100 listing. Both accolades are strong endorsements of the dynamic research and development, which underpins Synoptics. We will use the SMART award to part-fund a project that is technically challenging but will, if the hurdles are overcome, represent a world-leading solution to an important set of biological problems.”

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For Further Information Contact: 
Jayne Arthur, Synoptics Ltd, Beacon House, Nuffield Road, Cambridge, CB4 1TF, UK.
Tel: +44(0) 1223-727100 Fax +44 (0) 1223-727101
Email: jayne.arthur@synoptics.co.uk  Web site: www.synoptics.co.uk 
 
Editor Contact: Dr Sue Pearson, PO Box 170, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 3GD, UK.
Tel/Fax: + 44(0) 1462- 635327 Email: sue6.pearson@ntlworld.com 
 
Note to Editors 
About Synoptics 
Synoptics, based in Cambridge, UK is a world-leader in the development and manufacture of innovative digital imaging systems for a range of scientific applications. The Company has three divisions, Syngene, Syncroscopy and Synbiosis of which Syngene is the largest.  
Syngene produces advanced systems for molecular biologists to analyse and document information from gels. Syncroscopy and Synbiosis specialise in digital imaging solutions for microscopy and microbial applications respectively. The Company, founded in 1985, currently employs 50 people in its UK and subsidiary operation in Frederick, USA. It has profitable revenues of over £6 million and continues to grow rapidly. 
 
About the SMART AwardsSMART is the Small Business Service (SBS) initiative that provides grants to help individuals and small and medium-sized businesses to make better use of technology, or develop technologically innovative products and processes. SMART Awards vary in size from £2,500 up to £450,000 and are only offered if a project meets a set of strict selection criteria.