Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 322 A life lived in "inadequacy," a life without end.
"Principal, I'd like to inquire about how your school handles equipment lending. If a student borrows equipment from the school and produces results, how is intellectual property rights divided?"

Upon hearing that they weren't there to ask for funding, Principal Wang felt much more relaxed. The matter wasn't complicated; the university had its own set of rules.

First, a fundamental principle: research results generated under the guidance and assignment of the school and using the school's equipment belong to the school or the project team.

To give an extreme example: If a student suddenly achieves a major breakthrough using the school's equipment without notifying others, then even if he did it in his spare time, the intellectual property rights should legally belong to the school, the project team, or the laboratory.

In scientific research, equipment plays an extremely important role. Many laboratories are built with government funding and are set up specifically for certain projects. It is against regulations to secretly conduct your own research using public equipment worth hundreds of millions of yuan.

It's like someone else built a power plant, and you went in and shoveled some coal, then you claim those few kilowatt-hours of electricity as yours?
Even the coal (and other supplies) belong to others!

We're already being lenient by not pursuing your unauthorized use of the equipment. Have you considered the depreciation and wear and tear? Have you considered maintenance and repairs? You can't just break the equipment and then shout, "I did it for science!"

Generally speaking, no school would be so strict, since such cases are extremely rare.

If such a genius and lucky individual truly exists, the school will focus more on "talent" and "academic reputation." Everyone is on the same side, so sitting down and having a chat makes everything easy to discuss, since the result has already occurred and is "positive."

The results also need to be implemented and explored further, which requires the continued participation of the "creators." Making things too rigid will not please anyone.

If off-campus organizations borrow school equipment, there is a pricing system based on a percentage of the equipment's value. Particularly expensive equipment is not lent out, and it is given lower priority to ensure it does not conflict with the school's tasks.

What makes the "Mechanical Core Research Institute" special is that, structurally it is a purely off-campus institution, but all the people inside are students of Harbin Institute of Technology.

Even without this research institute, it would be perfectly normal for Zhai Da and others to apply for the use of the equipment.

Previously, "π" mobilized its members to produce papers by offering bounty questions, which also required the use of the school's equipment, but that was at the "academic level" and was very lenient.

The core research institute of machinery will follow a commercialization and industrialization path in the future. Some things must be done "correctly" from the root so that the road ahead can be "straight".

Zhai Da could instruct others to use it secretly, but ultimately it was unnecessary; it was a matter of principle.
Just find the person who set the principles to solve it, like Principal Wang.
Principal Wang took a sip of tea and said casually, "In principle, in addition to completing scientific research tasks, the school's equipment also includes the function of cultivating and teaching students."

Sure enough, Zhai Da knew that the matter had a chance when he heard the phrase "in principle".

"What equipment would you like to borrow? Do you have a general idea of ​​what you'd like to borrow?"

Zhai Da was prepared and handed over the printed form.

Principal Wang took a look.

They're all expensive.
Since Zhai Da could buy the cheap stuff himself, he hoped that all the members, including himself, could benefit from the "Execute Lao Yu" bonus as much as possible.

Principal Wang had a general impression of most of the items on the list.

Because expensive equipment all requires his approval.

For example, one of them, the "silicon carbide substrate laser lift-off equipment," was only purchased in the last two years because of aerospace needs. Because of the monopoly, it was sold at an exorbitant price, costing 1200 million yuan per unit.

Principal Wang Chunguo thought to himself, "You certainly know how to pick things."
“Xiao Zhai, according to the usual rate, you need to pay 1% of the original value per day for valuable equipment. For example, this silicon carbide equipment costs 120,000 per day. You also need to pay a deposit of 30% of the original value, as well as maintenance and energy costs. To be honest, it’s very expensive.”

Zhai Da's face went numb; this price was simply outrageous.
"But in your case, it's really hard to define. School equipment is supposed to be used for training students. They're all our own students. I don't think it's necessary to focus so much on the equipment costs."

Zhai Da immediately said in a deep voice, "The principal is wise."

Principal Wang Guochun stroked his chin, sighed, and put the form aside.

He took off his glasses and rubbed his nose: "You've really given me a tough challenge. To be honest, silicon carbide semiconductors are a bit too far beyond your current level in my opinion. It's a bit too ambitious."

Of course, he had a feeling that Xiao Zhai might have some external support, after all, he had found a good teacher.

Zhai Da could only say, "I will proceed step by step, but perhaps... progress will be faster than you imagine."

“It’s good to have drive, but I don’t really care about your progress. After all, if we follow your logic, intellectual property has nothing to do with Harbin Institute of Technology, right?” Zhai Da offered an olive branch: “Although it may sound presumptuous of me to say this now, if the university is interested in some of the research results of the institute in the future, we can give them the university’s prefix, such as ‘joint research and development with Harbin Institute of Technology’. At least we can give back to our alma mater in terms of academic circles and academic reputation.”

Principal Wang didn't take it too seriously, because every research project is set up with the expectation of "success," but very few actually yield "results."

However, he still intends to give Zhai Da some preferential treatment.

The principal got up and walked to the window, looking at the vast campus. He could faintly hear students laughing and joking as they passed by: "Xiao Zhai, what do you think is the essence of a university?"

Zhai Da pondered for a moment: "Scientific research and teaching, overcoming challenges and cultivating talent."

"That's fairly correct, but not comprehensive. Would you like to hear my interpretation?"

"Please tell me."

President Wang smiled and said, "A university is a community of 'seeking truth' and 'nurturing people,' as well as a combination of 'personal growth' and 'social responsibility.'"

"Therefore, we are 'nurturing people to seek truth' and 'growing individuals to assume social responsibility'."

"The ultimate question for Harbin Institute of Technology has always been what kind of talent the country needs and what kind of talent society needs."

"If this proposal had been put forward by a seasoned, accomplished academic, I would have thrown it in his face. But instead, it was an undergraduate student, a young man who needs to grow and be nurtured."

“We are willing to support young people who want to ‘start a business,’ such as the Harbin Institute of Technology Entrepreneurship Park which is under construction, the free guidance from school teachers, the financial support for college students starting businesses, the introduction of investment institutions, and the application for national funds. In fact, the direction is the same. It’s just that most others are doing small-scale things, while you need more.”

"So in my opinion, as long as your research institute is based on industry and has the potential to take on social responsibility in the future, then providing you with help and convenience is our duty. As for undergraduates, I don't talk about benefits, I only talk about training."

Zhai Da also stood up, walked behind the principal, and looked at the campus with him.

The once unfamiliar city and university are now etched in my mind, and also bear the mark of Zhai Da.

"What do you mean?"

Principal Wang turned his head and said, "Applications for equipment are possible, but they must strictly follow the relevant laboratory rules and be used under supervision and guidance. They must not compete with national projects or key laboratories for equipment. Maintenance and depreciation are not required. Consumables can be prepared by yourself or purchased from the school."

Zhai Da said in a deep voice, "Then what are your requirements?"

"Require?"

Principal Wang smiled and said, "By giving you this back door, I've already made an exception and used special privileges."

"Then only by asking for nothing in return can you remain clean. Apart from that so-called academic naming you brought up yourself, your alma mater has no other requirements, unless you insist on saying something."

Principal Wang patted Zhai Da on the shoulder: "It's what I said before, to become a talent that society needs and a talent that the country needs."

"Your starting point is too high, higher than the finish line of many people. But because of this, you will never see the finish line. Becoming Qian Lao's student will mean that you will spend most of your life in the 'insufficient' stage, after all, your teacher is too high."

"Keep going. If you take that person as your role model, a lifetime is too short, and you may not be able to catch up to them even when you grow old."

As Zhai stepped out of the principal's office, the sun shone brightly outside, and he shaded his eyes with his hand to look out.

My emotions were also somewhat turbulent.

If one aspires to be a teacher, even a lifetime of dedication would not be enough.
But the principal.
Each generation has its own path, and each person has their own mountain peak.

The giant on the mountaintop waited a long time for someone to come, but perhaps on the opposite mountaintop, a descendant would wave to him from afar.

Or perhaps it was a group of people, a group of powerful young people, who joined hands to climb a new mountain.

(End of this chapter)