60 

2005 

Researchers create a tiny device called a photonic crystal waveguide to slow light down to less 

than 1/300th of its usual speed. Such a device represents an advance toward the eventual use of 

light in place of electricity in the connection of electronic components. 

In July, IBM and the National Geographic Society announce a groundbreaking, five year 

research partnership    the Genographic Project    to deepen the understanding of how the human 

race populated the planet. One aspect of the project involves the collection and field analysis of 

DNA samples from more than 100,000 members of the last remaining indigenous populations on 

the planet    one of the largest DNA collections ever assembled. A second aspect involves 

inviting members of the public to purchase cheek swab kits and submit their own DNA for 

analysis. Participants will then receive customized genetic maps with specific details of the 

migratory paths followed by their own ancestors. Data collected from all these samples will be 

analyzed and managed securely using IBM systems and custom database technology. 

IBM launches a new research effort to help battle AIDS using the massive computational power 

of World Community Grid, a global community of computer users who have joined the 

philanthropic technology initiative by simply donating time on their personal computers. 

IBM, Infineon and Macronix announce a joint research initiative to explore the potential of a 

new form of computer memory technology called phase change memory (PCM). The research 

will be performed at IBM's research facilities in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., and Almaden, Calif. 

Facilities 

New York Governor George E. Pataki announces more than $2.5 billion in investments in the 

state by an IBM led consortium of high tech companies from across the globe. The investments 

include $1.9 billion that IBM, Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, Infineon , AMD and Charter will spend 

on nanoelectronics manufacturing and development in East Fishkill.  

IBM says it will open more than a dozen new development centers in China, Brazil and Russia in 

an effort to accelerate innovation around the adoption of open standards based solutions in 

emerging markets. These centers are designed to help business partners develop, test and deploy 

solutions based on IBM's open technology infrastructure, and they will complement the 25 

Innovation Centers IBM already operates for business partners worldwide.  

In August, Brazil's President Luiz Uinacio Lula da Silva visits the IBM Global Command 

Center, housed in IBM's Technology Center (CTIBM) in Hortol

a

ndia, Brazil. President Lula's 

participation in the official ribbon cutting ceremony marks the first visit to an IBM facility by a 

Brazilian president. The CTIBM is IBM Brazil's hub for services operations, and the newly 

inaugurated Global Command Center there can house 480 employees to support outsourced IT 

operations. 

IBM opens a new Global Services Delivery Center in Dalian, China. The new facility will 

initially house 600 employees to provide Business Transformation Outsourcing services.  

1406HHX