newstoday.co.za: IBM puts $6 billion into research

IBM is investing $6 billion into research for next-generation technologies such as quantum computing, nanotechnology and data centres.

This is according to Clifford Foster, CTO of IBM Sub-Saharan Africa, who presented a global technology outlook at the ITWeb Technology Roadmaps 2008 conference, held at the Campus, in Bryanston, yesterday.

Foster says: “The world is in a transition era. Advances in core IT will enable companies to improve performance and reduce costs. The fastest and most effective systems will be those that are designed with processors, subsystems and software – all designed in concert.”

According to Foster, IBM has nanotechnology and quantum computing running in its labs and these technologies are expected to be in operation and available to the public by 2020. It's now all about containing the costs of the technology.

Foster believes the emergence of broadband wireless networks will drive a transformation in businesses as more enterprises will move to mobile devices. He adds that, in the developing world, innovation is being born out of need.

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