The research is targeted to develop compilers that improve the performance of Intel's Itanium processor family, said Patrick P. Gelsinger, vice president and chief technology officer of the Intel Architecture Group.

Under the two-year deal, Intel and the Beijing-based organization will develop "modular" compiler components. The "modules" will be used to perform specific optimization tasks that allow researchers to quickly test different techniques against a common base.

Optimization techniques tested in this way will include loop nesting, inter-procedural analysis, scalar optimization, global instruction scheduling, profiling, software pipeline, register allocation, predication and speculation. In addition, a number of simulator tools will be developed to enable validation and comparison of these modules.

Intel is also conducting other research in China. To boost its processor lines for next-generation applications, Intel's subsidiary in China is developing an advanced voice-recognition software platform (see April 13 story).