The Singapore Institute of Microelectronics (IME) is working with a Taiwan-based technology firm to develop a slimmer mobile projector that can be built in to smartphones.

The institute, a body under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) said on Tuesday it will work with OPUS Microsystems Corporation on a smaller, micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS)-based micromirror that will also allow higher resolution images and movies to be beamed onto any surface. Such micromirrors are common in light modulating devices like high-definition (HD) TVs. IME will lead the process design and development while OPUS will contribute in the design of the mirror.

While there are already mini projectors that can be attached to phones in the market - and even those that are built into a smartphone, such as the Samsung Galaxy Beam - many of them are still clunky.

"The interest of pico-projectors has gained traction in recent years, but the industry challenge remains in achieving a cutting edge technology that will allow the integration of small-scale projector into smartphones while maintaining a high resolution output," said IME's executive director, Professor Dim-Lee Kwong.