Chapter 732

Thinking about the funding issue, Xiao Chenghan sighed: “Even if you’re just playing around, throwing billions into it isn’t something an ordinary person can afford.”

“This kind of money-spending approach—forget ordinary people, even we can’t hold up.”

Li Gang smiled.

It’s just that money gives you the freedom to be reckless.

Relying entirely on his own funds, rejecting social financing.

But Xu Qingzhou has the capital: superconducting thin-film patents, lithium dendrite patents, shuttle effect patents—these three patent bundles alone could bring the institute hundreds of billions in revenue.

“Spherical tokamak.”

Xiao Chenghan said solemnly: “No matter how you look at it, breakthroughs are extremely difficult—unless this kid has come up with some earth-shattering, ghost-chilling technology again.”

These are currently the most famous small-scale devices.

Spain’s SMART device, reportedly planning to research a negative triangular design to guide plasma; Tsinghua University’s SUNIST-2, with a 1T magnetic field strength; and the UK’s MAST-Upgrade, capable of achieving stable deuterium-tritium fusion reactions.

These are currently the most advanced spherical tokamaks.

Yes, their devices have some disruptive advantages, but they still lag behind conventional large-scale tokamak systems.

The scale and investment are right there.

Comparing a hundred-million-dollar experiment to a project investing billions—or even tens of billions—is just bullying.

“Who knows? Professor Xu might not be calculable by ordinary standards.”

Li Gang said helplessly.

Starting from mathematics, he surged forward relentlessly—even solved the Millennium Prize problem, the Riemann Hypothesis.

Then came superconducting thin films—he pulled far ahead, leaving everyone behind.

Finally, lithium dendrites and the shuttle effect.

When this kid first started working on these two things, many scholars were skeptical; plenty sneered and mocked him.

They thought Xu Qingzhou was just drawing pies in the air.

And now?

Wherever this young man enters, the entire field shakes for three days.

The same is true in the field of controlled nuclear fusion: two years ago, everyone was struggling to make progress; now look—competition is fierce.

Jinxi Bei has turned into a complete mess.

Xiao Chenghan deeply agreed, his gaze drifting to the window. He sighed: “Future history books will surely include Xu Qingzhou’s name. Perhaps Xia will also produce a scientific giant like Newton or Einstein—a figure of epochal significance.”

Li Gang also laughed.

Xia needs a scientist who transcends eras—but to reach the level Xiao Chenghan described, there’s still a long way to go.

Newton and Einstein reconstructed humanity’s fundamental framework for understanding the universe; achieving such a breakthrough today is extremely difficult.

The two sipped tea and sighed for a while; then Li Gang thought for a moment and said: “Alright, arrange it—give the joint team more testing time.”

Of course, the institute has more than just the thin-film project.

Testing time is limited; besides simulating extreme operating conditions, they also need to test during EAST and HT-7 operations—dozens of projects are waiting in line.

Simulations are still just simulations; actual testing is necessary.

The cooperation team’s original priority was low—now it’s worth raising.

First-wall materials…

Li Gang narrowed his eyes: if they truly succeed, they’ll solve another major problem in nuclear fusion.

“Alright, I’ll take care of it right away.” Xiao Chenghan nodded.

Although the patents aren’t in our hands, there’s no doubt that if they truly produce nano-pore tungsten films, we’ll be direct beneficiaries.

Nowadays, every country is making major moves in the fusion field.

Mid-January.

In Xu Qingzhou’s office, a visitor arrived: Yang Fangxu, Chief Technical Engineer from Xia’s Spacecraft Eleventh Academy.

“Academician Yang, please sit.” Xu Qingzhou poured tea for Academician Yang.

Yang Fangxu praised: “I’ve long heard of the Materials Institute’s reputation—truly deserving of its fame. Just walking through it, you can feel this is a place for true scholarship.”

“If you’re willing to come, we’ll sweep the beds and welcome you with open arms,” Xu Qingzhou joked.

“Haha, once I retire, I might consider it.”