Features

SAN JOSE — Intel Corp.’s chief executive urged chip-makers Monday to continue innovating and competing despite the sour economy and pressure to fall back on industrywide standards. 

Being fast and first are still the best ways to drive technology forward, Intel chief Craig Barrett told the International Symposium on Semiconductor Manufacturing. 

“The concept of an industrywide technology standard I think is crazy,” he said.  

“It will stifle innovation. We need competition to move forward. You don’t get competition via committee.”  

This year, Intel is spending $7.5 billion on capital expenditures and about $4 billion on research and development.  

Barrett has repeatedly said companies such as Intel cannot save their way out of a recession. 

“Technology continues to move forward,” he said. “If you stand still from a technology standpoint, it’s like trying to sell brown bananas.” 

Barrett declined to comment on Intel’s current financials in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Several rivals, including Sun Microsystems Inc. and Advanced Micro Devices, have issued warnings. 

Intel is scheduled to post its third-quarter earnings on Oct. 16. 

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On the Net 

Intel Corp.: http://www.intel.com