Getting smaller

Whilst official confirmation is awaited, Reuters (Small line width) reported last week that Intel, Samsung and Toshiba are planning to join forces to develop IC technologies down to 10 nanometre line widths by 2016. According to the report Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will likely provide around 5 billion yen ($61.21 million) of the roughly 10 billion yen in initial funds for the R&D efforts.