America's No. 1 financial conglomerate

Chapter 466 Conspiracy

Redwood City, Bell Labs.

Carl Weller returned from Los Angeles overnight and summoned the heads of various departments at Bell Labs to his office early the next morning.

The secretary served steaming hot coffee, its rich aroma filling the office.

After she left, Carl Weller placed a stack of pre-prepared photocopies in the center of the table, his gaze sweeping over each of the responsible persons present. "Take a look at this document first."

Everyone looked at each other, and a brief silence fell over the office, wondering what Karl was up to.

In the end, it was Schultz, the head of the communications department, who reached out first and picked up a copy from the stack of photocopies.

After a quick glance and a few casual flips, Schultz tossed the document back onto the table, a hint of doubt in his voice. "This looks like a commercial procurement contract?"

Schultz's words drew surprised expressions from the other officials.

They had all long been focused on scientific research and were unfamiliar with matters such as commercial contracts, nor did they understand why Carl Weller would show them a commercial contract.

Carl Weller nodded slightly. "That's right, it is indeed a business contract. To be more precise, it's a copy of the lighting procurement contract between Starlight Technology and the Beverly Hotel. I specifically obtained this contract from Starlight Technology yesterday in Los Angeles."

"Starlight Technology?"

"The lighting procurement contract with the Beverly Hotel?"

Everyone whispered and repeated these two key pieces of information, their faces filled with even greater confusion.

Sheen, the head of the basic science department, couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Karl, I really don't understand what Starlight Technology's procurement contract with the Beverly Hotel has to do with our Bell Labs?"

Carl Weller pointed to the copy of the contract on the table. "This Starlight Technology is a company that Bell Labs helped establish."

"What?!" Several people exclaimed in surprise, and Schultz even stood up. "When did our lab start a company?"

Karl hadn't specifically told them about Starlight Technology, so only a few people knew about it.

Because he knew that even if he spoke, no one would be willing to listen.

Talking to these people about these things is not as effective as giving them an extra ten thousand dollars in funding.

He took a sip of coffee and then explained the situation of Starlight Technology to everyone in detail: "That's the situation, so Bell Labs owns 50% of Starlight Technology."

"Is it necessary?" someone questioned. "Why not just collect patent fees directly? Why take shares in that company? If they lose money, are we supposed to pay for it?"

Carl pointed to the contract again. "Look at the amount."

Upon hearing Carl Weller's words, the person in charge who had just raised the question picked up the contract with some skepticism and focused his attention on the clauses concerning the amount.

His eyes widened instantly when he saw the figure of $300 million for the equipment.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that in addition to equipment costs, there were miscellaneous expenses such as installation and training, bringing the total contract amount to a staggering $318 million.

"This is practically robbery!" the manager exclaimed in disbelief.

His reaction was exactly the same as Carl Weller's when he first learned of the price.

"Just a few broken lights, using the laser technology we developed, and you dare to ask for $300 million? Could the cost even exceed one million dollars?"

"Let me see." A slightly aged but authoritative voice rang out.

The speaker was Schent, head of the Optics and Quantum Electronics Department at Bell Labs. Laser technology research and development was being carried out in his department, so he was very clear about the cost and technical details of laser-related equipment.

After simply counting the number of devices, he said in a deep voice, "60 US dollars. Give me 60 US dollars, and I can make these devices."

Instantly, several gasps were heard.

With a cost of $60 and a selling price of $300 million, is making money that easy?

Carl Weller, seeing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, revealed a smile that he had already anticipated.

He cleared his throat and continued, "What I want to say is that Starlight Technology has already signed eight contracts like these, totaling more than 30 million US dollars."

While Joe Hansen was leading his team to install lighting equipment at the Beverly Hotel, Starlight Technology successfully signed a new lighting installation contract with a high-end hotel in Seattle, expanding its business.

"Thirty million US dollars?" everyone exclaimed.

Not only are there idiots, but there are a lot of them.

"Based on my communication with the relevant personnel at Starlight Technology, Starlight Technology's sales revenue this year is very likely to exceed one hundred million US dollars. And next year, with the further expansion of the market and the continuous advancement of business, sales revenue is expected to exceed two hundred million US dollars." Carl Weller once again shocked everyone.

Joe Hansen told him about the $100 million, but he thought it was the annual sales figure.

But when he went to Starlight Technology, he learned that the $100 million that the sales director, Emily, mentioned was this year's sales revenue.

Then, Carl Weller dropped an even more explosive piece of news, instantly igniting the enthusiasm of everyone present: "According to the agreement between Ernst and me, the portion of Starlight Technology's profits belonging to Bell Labs will be used entirely for Bell Labs' research and development expenses."

"I have consulted with Starlight Technology's finance department. If Starlight Technology's sales really can exceed 200 million US dollars, our laboratory can get at least 30 million US dollars in R&D funding."

"Thirty million US dollars in research and development funding?"

Seeing everyone frozen in place like statues, Karl Weller had long anticipated this outcome.

This is what he meant by "open conspiracy," a strategy originating from Ernst.

For these researchers, the only thing that could make them hesitate or change their minds was research funding.

Doesn't Bell Labs have a rule that outsiders are not allowed to enter on non-public days?

Great! What if abolishing this rule could bring tens of millions of dollars in R&D funding to each department every year?

Schultz swallowed hard. "That broken laser technology developed a few years ago? It can earn us tens of millions of dollars a year?"

"What kind of crappy laser is this?" Schente protested. "This is the result of our research and development."

After a moment of silence, Shi Ente spoke softly, "Since it's our department's achievement, I think the funds earned by Starlight Technology should also belong to us..."

"Go to hell."

Before he could finish speaking, several feet were already in front of him.

"But this situation won't last two or three years," Carl Weller added, pouring cold water on the idea.

"Why?" Schent asked, looking rather naive.

Carl Weller patiently explained, "Where are there so many wealthy hotels that continuously make high-end purchases of lighting equipment? Although Starlight Technology plans to expand into new areas such as nightclubs, don't forget that laser technology is not something that only Bell Labs possesses; we are just technologically advanced."

"When companies in the market see that laser lighting equipment has such a huge profit margin, within six months, various companies similar to Starlight Technology will emerge one after another, and market competition will become extremely fierce."

"At that time, it will be impossible for Starlight Technology to maintain such high profits. The company's profit margin will be greatly compressed, and it will rely more on increasing sales volume to maintain the company's overall revenue."

Carl Weller shared without reservation the information he obtained from his conversation with the head of Starlight Technology with the other executives present.

"So," Carl Weller paused, his gaze sweeping over each of the leaders present, "we now need to make a choice: should we continue to uphold the rules established by Mr. Bell and Mr. Shannon, strictly separating scientific research from commercialization, and refusing to allow laboratories to participate in commercial operations?"

Only now did the assembled leaders finally understand that the real purpose of Carl Weller's emergency call to this meeting was not to discuss the development and profit prospects of Starlight Technology, but rather whether Bell Labs should embrace commercialization.

Judging from Starlight Technology, they are completely clueless about commercialization.

What they considered a half-finished technology could be transformed into a product with huge market potential and high profits in the eyes of those with business acumen, creating such amazing commercial value.

Since its establishment, Bell Labs has accumulated tens of thousands of advanced scientific research technologies.

These technologies cover multiple fields such as communications, electronics, optics, and materials, and include many that have yielded results but whose applications are unknown.

If Bell Labs could successfully commercialize just 1% of its technology and generate profits, would the lab still be struggling with a shortage of research funding every day?

I use one water purifier for experiments and another as a water dispenser. I bought an extra sterilizer for cooking, and I use the chromatograph as a stool.

Thinking of this, everyone unconsciously swallowed.

Looking at the complex expressions on everyone's faces, Carl Weller already knew the answer in his heart.

He knew that Ernst's scheme had succeeded and had successfully touched the hearts of everyone in charge present.

They cleverly capitalized on researchers' urgent need for R&D funding, using the success story of Starlight Technology as bait, forcing Bell Labs' management to re-examine their traditional development model.

When Bell Labs began to actively embrace commercialization and was able to achieve self-sufficiency in R&D funding through commercial operations, Ernst no longer needed to invest large sums of money to support the operation of this money-guzzling behemoth as he had in the past.

On the contrary, Bell Labs will leverage its strong research capabilities to provide Ernst's companies with a continuous stream of advanced technological support, becoming the technological engine for their development and achieving a positive interaction and common development between scientific research and business.