US chip giant Intel has joined hands with a top Taiwan research institute to develop a new generation of memory chips for use in lighter, energy-saving smartphones and tablets, officials said Wednesday. \"Intel Labs will collaborate with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) on research programmes expected to shape the future of information technology,\" Intel said in a statement. The $15-million project will focus on \"super-fast, but extremely energy-efficient memory technologies\" for lightweight laptops, tablets and smartphones, it said. Intel, ITRI and Taiwan\'s economic ministry each will spend $5 million on the five-year project.