Japan's electronic makers Toshiba and Sony and US-based IBM Thursday said they are extending their joint research project on developing new semiconductors to power consumer electronics.

The project, begun in 2000, will be extended through 2010 and will work on developing chips that are 32 nanometres or less, they said. The current standard size of computer chips is 90 nanometres.

Smaller chips allow manufacturers to produce faster, smaller and more energy-efficient devices while lowering costs.

The trio's partnership has already produced the Cell chip, which will power Sony's new Playstation 3 that hits the market this year.