The search is on

Sopheon and Northern Light have inked a deal that will provide access to Sopheon's Intota scientific and technical expert network through Northern Light's Web search engine.

Northern Light explains that experts in specific areas of science, technology, engineering and industry will be available to answer questions through confidential telephone or e-mail contact and to provide extended consultation on projects. Service costs can be paid directly online via credit card, Northern Light says.

Visitors can use Northern Light’s Power Search or Business Search forms and limit a search to "expert biographies" for access to the co-branded Web site, where they can do additional searches to locate expertise or browse by any of 33,000 subject areas in science and technology. Users are then shown a complete description of the expertise offered and can ask a question or post a project for the expert's review.