Silicon photonics moves into new clinical and environmental applications 14 Apr 2021 MISSION project developing next-generation integrated photonics devices. Graham Reed: progress towards better lives around the world. A new project coordinated by the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton aims to extend silicon photonics devices into new applications. Backed by £5.8 million from the UK's EPSRC funding agency, the five-year program intends to "unleash the full potential of integrated mid-infrared photonics," according to the project. MISSION, named for Mid-Infrared Silicon Photonic Sensors for Healthcare and Environmental Monitoring, also includes as partners the universities of York and Sheffield, as well as the Southampton-based National Oceanographic Centre (NOC).