Looking ahead to a time when Haswells become has beens, along with other silicon-based chips on or nearing the market, IBM announces its intent to invest $3 billion into shrinking current chip technologies and moving beyond silicates.

The first of the two-prongs of IBM's $3 billion research initiative entails a plan to shrink the physical size of the die, the wafer on which chip circuitry is embedded, down to at least 7 nanometers -- Intel's incoming Haswell chip has enticed hardware manufactures and tech consumers with its ground-breaking 22nm size. The second prong of IBM's research initiative was said to be a research effort into moving beyond the medium of silicon, which has been a staple in computer components since the arrival of integrated circuits.

Dubbed "7 nanometer and beyond," IBM said part one of its $3 billion research initiative will seek to power the evolution of big data and cloud computing. Much like the space efficiency and raw power integrated circuits brought to the field of computer science, shrinking computers from room filling behemoths to devices that could rest on desk and palm tops, chips 7nm and smaller would accelerate the evolution of cloud computing and big data.

John Kelly, senior vice president, IBM Research, stated that the first half of his company's latest research initiative will undoubtedly reach its goal of shrinking computer chips.

"The question is not if we will introduce 7 nanometer technology into manufacturing, but rather how, when, and at what cost," said Kelly. "IBM engineers and scientists, along with our partners, are well suited for this challenge and are already working on the materials science and device engineering required to meet the demands of the emerging system requirements for cloud, big data, and cognitive systems."

As hardware manufacturers struggle to pack more circuitry onto smaller chips, the second half of IBM's $3 billion initiative, "Post-Silicon," will seek a new material or formula for developing computer circuitry. Some of the fringe ideas IBM said its Post-Silicon research may develop include the use of carbon nanotubes and neuromorphic computing, which seeks to emulate the structure of human brains.

"As the leader in advanced schemes that point beyond traditional silicon-based computing, IBM holds over 500 patents for technologies that will drive advancements at 7nm and beyond silicon -- more than twice the nearest competitor," IBM stated.