In an effort to ensure future-readiness as the world’s silicon chip business wavers, IBM has announced a five-year $3 billion project to develop and ready super-efficient carbon chips.
As one of the world’s biggest and most important suppliers of traditional PCs and components, IBM is having a tough time right now. Any decline in global PC shipments means a huge knock to IBM’s performance and reputation – its hardware arm having recently announced a 23% sales decline compared to the same quarter just last year.
However, the company remains confident that its future in the industry will be one of strength and resilience, having announced a $3 billion five-year investment in the R&D of new-generation chips. IBM’s primary goal is to increase the efficiency of its new-generation chips by making them smaller, faster, more stable and generally more resistant.
“The message to our investors is that we are committed to this space, we believe there is great innovation possible that will be necessary in world of big data analytics, said IBM senior VP Tom Rosamilia.
“These are essential ingredients in delivering the kind of performance the world will demand. The world is demanding it now and will continue to demand it for the next 10 years.”
Silicon chips are no longer producing the kinds of returns that facilitate the research and development of more capable silicone chips as new technology demands. As such, IBM’s status as the only company that’s currently pumping huge sums of money into the development of carbon chips could put it head and shoulders above its rivals and establish it as the only future-ready chipmaker once the technology is fully readied.