A €3 million international research project is to create multi-processor microchips able to operate vital in-car systems simultaneously, boosting their speed and efficiency.

The European Union is providing €2 million for the Merasa project, which involves Britain’s Rapita Systems Ltd; Honeywell in the Czech Republic; the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre; Augsburg University, Germany; and the Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse.

The multi-processor chips will help speed anti-lock braking systems and optimise fuel consumption controls.