Microsoft and Intel teamed up to create two Universal Parallel Computing Research Centers (UPCRC) in their attempt to accelerate development in desktop and mobile computing, the companies unveiled earlier this week. Both partners are planning to spend $ 20 million in funding research over the next five years, directed towards the two centers that will be located at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Parallel computing is in fact a combination between advanced software and multi-core processors that offer capabilities of handling multiple tasks at one time. Although the subject of multiple core hardware and software combination is nothing new, the two companies are working to develop even more advanced techniques for the years to come.

It’s a tendency we all need to adjust to: “Intel has already shown an 80-core research processor, and we’re quickly moving the computing industry to a many-core world,” said Andrew Chien, vice president, Corporate Technology Group and director, Inter Research. “Working with Microsoft and these two prestigious universities will help catalyze the long-term breakthroughs that are needed to enable dramatic new applications for the mainstream user.”

On the other hand, Tony Hay, corporate vice president of External research at Microsoft’s Research said: “Driven by an unprecedented capability of multicore processors, we’re in the midst of a revolution in the computing industry, which profoundly affects the way we develop software. Working jointly with industry and academia, we plan to explore the next generation of hardware and software to unlock the promise and the power of parallel computing and enable a change in the way people use technology.

In addition to the $20 million the two companies will bring to the research, the University of Illinois will come with an additional $8 million, while UC Berkeley has applied for $7 million in funds from a state-supported program.