Sail across the sea

Chapter 516 Imminent
Compared to Yang Kai...

Gao Fan was truly astonished by Fu Yiming's imagination.

Yang Kai is considered a prodigy even at Peking University. Fu Yiming actually compared Yang Kai to the mediocre students of Maolin University of Technology. Does he have some misunderstanding about Peking University or Maolin University of Technology?

Fu Yiming saw through Gao Fan's thoughts and said, "Gao Fan, you can't think like that. You have to think about it. Our company's products are all aimed at the international market, just like our vitamins. Even when competing with international giants like Lowe's and Wright's, we don't fall behind."

"Low Chemical and Wright's technical departments have many top-notch international engineers. If we only rely on students from Maolin University of Technology as front-line engineers, how can we possibly compete with them?"

Gu Kunquan said, "Speaking of which, I still can't help but admire your foresight, Gao Fan. Ten years ago, you set up this Peking University-affiliated industry-academia-research experimental base in Cangtang. Over the years, Peking University teachers and graduate students have been coming to conduct experiments. Many times when we encounter technical problems in production, we ask these Peking University teachers and students for help. Our own engineers have also learned a lot from Peking University teachers."

The idea of ​​an integrated industry-academia-research experimental base can be traced back to when Gao Fan first contracted the labor service company. At that time, he offered to provide 10 yuan in experimental funding each year in exchange for Hai Qingwen, a teacher in the department, bringing students to Cangtang to conduct experiments.

At the time, he did indeed intend to use this base to attract a group of high-level scientific research talents so that he could take advantage of them when needed.

When he first designed the Vitamin C device, Hai Qingwen's team provided him with a lot of help. Otherwise, relying solely on his time-traveling cheat ability, it would have been impossible to design such a complex device.

The difference between high-end talent and ordinary talent is still very obvious.

For example, from the perspective of highly skilled individuals, even the most foolish person wouldn't be unable to understand calculus.

For example, from the perspective of highly skilled individuals, even the laziest person shouldn't be unable to write 10,000 words a day...

"So, what do you mean? Do you want me to bring more people from Peking University to the experimental base?" Gao Fan asked.

Fu Yiming shook his head: "Since it's not our own engineer, it's not very convenient to use. There have been cases like this before. When we encounter problems and want to ask the teacher to take a look, the teacher makes excuses that he hasn't finished his experiment yet, and drags his feet. Sometimes when he arrives on site, he just takes a quick look and says a few perfunctory words. We still have to put on a smiling face."

"People nowadays aren't as simple as they used to be," Gu Kunquan sighed.

Gao Fan nodded, understanding what they meant.

In a way, this could be considered a real-life version of the saying "a little kindness is appreciated, but excessive kindness breeds resentment."

In the early years, the school had limited research funding, and Gao Fan was able to provide some research conditions and funding for the teachers and students. He would also treat them to good food and drinks. Everyone appreciated Gao Fan's kindness, and when they encountered technical problems in their companies and needed his help, they would do their best to help, afraid that people would think they were ungrateful.

Ten years have passed, but in the minds of the faculty and students of the Chemical Engineering Department, the Cangtang experimental base is a matter of course, and it is only right that Gao Fan provides them with research conditions. On the contrary, if the company asks them to do something, it is considered that they owe them a favor, and it is their duty to help if they are being kind, and not to help if they are not.

Of course, not all teachers think this way. Older teachers are more understanding of human nature and are more proactive in helping. Some younger teachers, however, feel they are the cream of the crop, that the world owes them a favor, so asking them to help with work is naturally extremely difficult for them. "Actually, there's another point: these teachers and students aren't company employees, so we can't make them sign confidentiality agreements. There are some technical secrets in our production processes that we don't dare let them access," Fu Yiming added.

"It seems that establishing a research institute is now urgent," Gao Fan said.

What Fu Yiming and Gu Kunquan really meant was to establish their own high-end research team. This team would be entirely dedicated to serving the company, unlike the teams of Peking University faculty and students who were essentially helping out voluntarily.

Another advantage of establishing such an in-house team is that it allows for maximum protection of technological secrets. Canghai Chemical's competitiveness stems from its technological lead, and competitors have always coveted its unique technologies. If it relies too heavily on the team of Peking University faculty and students, the losses could be significant if any teacher or student were tempted by offers of benefits and leaked Canghai Chemical's technology.

As for asking someone to sign a confidentiality agreement before asking for their help, that's just a hassle to think about.

Canghai Chemical does have a research department, mainly composed of engineers poached from various units within the province and newly recruited college graduates. They are capable of handling some routine process problems, but it would be difficult to expect them to produce any innovations or continuously optimize the processes.

Gao Fan had envisioned establishing a high-level research institute long ago, but the conditions were not yet ripe in various aspects.

The most important point is that the influence of the planned economy is still very strong, and most people have a strong attachment to the idea of ​​a secure job, especially researchers.

After all, people who are too quick-witted can't do scientific research.

From Gao Fan's perspective, establishing a high-end research institute and poaching talent from national-level research institutions while the traditional system remains powerful carries significant risks. Official departments could easily accuse you of undermining the state and shut you down.

Now that the country is about to announce the comprehensive construction of a market economy system, the old man has put forward the principle of "no debate," and the time is ripe to establish a research institute.

Fu Yiming is right. If Canghai Chemical wants to participate in international competition and compete with international chemical giants, how can it do so without gathering the best talents in China?

Furthermore, relying solely on domestic talent is insufficient; we also need to recruit talent from overseas.

"I will make the arrangements for establishing the research institute."

After figuring out the reasoning behind it, Gao Fan said in a deep voice:

"I will talk to the Department of Chemical Engineering about the Peking University experimental base in Cangtang. In the future, it will become self-sustaining, and the company will no longer provide free funding. If you want funding, you have to sign a cooperation agreement that explains your responsibilities and obligations. Don't think about taking advantage of us."

"Our own research institute will be recruiting globally. As for the standards... just like Lao Fu said, they must reach the level of my brother-in-law Yang Kai."

(End of this chapter)