Big Blue big spend

IBM has announced a plan to invest $3 billion over the next five years to meet the requirements of cloud computing and big data systems. The first research program is aimed at '7 nanometre and beyond’ silicon technology that will address the physical challenges that are threatening current semiconductor scaling techniques and impeding the ability to manufacture ICs. The second is focused on developing alternative technologies for post-silicon era devices. Quantum computing, neurosynaptic computing, III-V technologies and graphene are amongst the technologies being targeted.