Paris  - Intel, the giant US chip manufacturer, plans to pursue research efforts for future technology for high performance computers in France, in cooperation with the French Commission for Atomic Energy (CEA,) the French government said late Friday.

The University of Versailles-Saint-Quentin near Paris is to be involved in the project, the presidential offices said after a meeting between President Nicolas Sarkozy and Intel board chairman Craig Barrett.

Barret was interested in Intel'a investing in a French state- private industry cooperation system. Sarkozy pledged state support for Intel's involvement in the project.

Intel has been working on long-term projects with CEA for some time. (dpa)