Chapter 59: A Thunderclap on Flat Ground

When Li Dongling got out of the car, he was also a bit surprised to see Han Qianyi and Liu Youguo waiting downstairs.

"Dean Han, Professor Liu, sorry to have kept you waiting!" Li Dongling said after getting out of the car, hurriedly stepping forward.

"It's only right!"

Han Qianyi was full of smiles. "Dongling, you didn't tell us in advance when you returned to school. Our college faculty and staff, as well as your junior brothers and sisters, all want to see you, this big figure in the tech industry!"

Before Li Dongling took a plane to the provincial capital, many universities, including Hanxi Jiaotong University, had invited Li Dongling to give speeches, but they were all politely declined by him.

"I wouldn't dare take the credit. Dean Han is too kind. Dongling High-Tech just happened to do some things by luck, which is far from being comparable to those seniors at Jiaotong University!"

Hanxi Jiaotong University had a century of heritage. Over so many years, there were graduates from Jiaotong University in all walks of life, many of whom were in high positions. These were all connections of Hanxi Jiaotong University.

Upstairs, after sitting at the table, Han Qianyi took the lead in raising his glass. "Dongling, I toast you on behalf of the college. In the future, you must come back and visit more often. The college misses you who have gone out!"

After a glass of wine, Li Dongling glanced at Han Qianyi. Since Han Qianyi had lowered his posture to this point, if Li Dongling still couldn't hear it, that would be strange. Han Qianyi was almost directly complaining to Li Dongling that the school's funding was stretched thin.

Coughing, Li Dongling said, "Whether it's for the Radio Technology College or Hanxi Jiaotong University, I am willing to contribute my humble efforts. I am personally willing to donate 500,000 to the Radio Technology College. In addition, Dongling High-Tech also intends to donate 500,000 to Hanxi Jiaotong University!"

Li Dongling, in his personal name and Dongling High-Tech's name, jointly donated one million to Hanxi Jiaotong University. In this era when university professors' salaries were only less than 700 or 800 yuan, and they were often underpaid or even in arrears, this million-yuan donation was definitely not a small amount!

As for whether donating this money was a loss, if you look at the long timeline, with Hanxi Jiaotong University there, its century-old heritage and connections, Dongling High-Tech would be able to come into contact with them in the future. These things sometimes couldn't be bought with money.

In addition, Hanxi Jiaotong University's future R&D capabilities could also be borrowed by Dongling High-Tech. Talent from Hanxi Jiaotong University could also be prioritized by Dongling High-Tech. It was equivalent to opening the door of this huge talent pool, Hanxi Jiaotong University, to Dongling High-Tech.

"I thank you, Dongling, for your donation on behalf of the Radio Technology College!"

Han Qianyi stood up and said solemnly to Li Dongling. A mosquito, no matter how small, is still meat. This donation might not change the status quo for the vast Hanxi Jiaotong University, but for Han Qianyi, with this donation, many things would be easier to handle.

He could maintain some experimental projects in the college, retain some young scholars so they wouldn't resign due to low salaries, and issue scholarships and subsidies to needy students, etc.

After eating a few bites of food, Li Dongling wiped the corner of his mouth and looked at Han Qianyi. "Dean Han, the reason I asked Professor Liu to help invite you over this time is that there is a matter I want to discuss with you, and I hope you can help!"

"You came out of our college and are not an outsider. If you have anything to say, just say it!" The happy Han Qianyi drank several glasses of wine, and his face was a bit red.

Li Dongling took out a plan he had formulated in advance and pushed it in front of Han Qianyi. "I want Dongling High-Tech, Hanxi Jiaotong University, and Pingyang University to jointly establish a joint R&D laboratory.

In the future, if things go well, we can also invite more universities and research institutions to join!

For the joint laboratory, Dongling High-Tech expects to invest 15 million RMB in the first batch, used for building the laboratory, purchasing experimental equipment, and paying wages for R&D personnel. In the future, Dongling High-Tech will set aside 5% of its profits each year for the joint laboratory's R&D funding!"

Hearing Li Dongling's words, Liu Youguo's eyes suddenly lit up. Han Qianyi, who was still a bit tipsy, instantly sobered up. When he picked up the joint laboratory plan, his hands were shaking a bit.

Currently, universities including Hanxi Jiaotong University were basically teaching theory. It wasn't that they didn't want students to get their hands on experimental projects, but it was because they had no money. Which school didn't want to launch more R&D projects, let more students get their hands on them, and cultivate more geniuses? But that required funding, and a lot of money to burn to cultivate them. Geniuses need costs!

Now, even salaries weren't paid in full, so where was the money to invest in R&D experiments? Just hearing Li Dongling say he wanted to establish a joint laboratory and invest 15 million RMB in the first batch made Han Qianyi feel his whole brain was buzzing, and his heartbeat was so fast it was about to jump out of his chest. The surprise came too quickly, and at his age, he couldn't quite handle it.

"R&D is correct. Without R&D, where will technology come from? Buying from foreigners—what if they don't sell it one day?!

Back then, the Soviet Union aided us, but what happened? They withdrew all engineers at the slightest disagreement. Subsequent progress was all relied on our own exploration and R&D!"

Liu Youguo said excitedly, "Now those companies only look at buying cheap from outside. If they rely entirely on foreigners to sell them things, and they don't sell, they won't be able to survive. That's when they'll be throttled, and they'll have to agree to whatever conditions the others have.

Those companies now have too short-sighted vision, only caring about the small profits given by foreigners right now. Sooner or later, they will suffer!"

"Once the joint laboratory is built, I will be the first to go over and help with R&D, even if I don't take a salary..."

Han Qianyi looked at the shameless old Liu Youguo with disdain. How could Han Qianyi not see his little thoughts? What "help with R&D even if I don't take a salary."

If they really bought top-tier R&D equipment and allowed the use of equipment and materials, there would be plenty of professors from Hanxi Jiaotong University, or even other schools, who would bring their own dry food to the joint laboratory for R&D.

Finally, as long as they could complete the R&D, get the experimental results, publish academic papers in domestic and foreign journals, and then become famous, get funding from the education department, or get promoted, these conditions were already quite top-tier in the R&D industry. The education industry was simply too short of funding now!

"I will hand this plan to the school leaders. I feel that cooperation is no problem!" Han Qianyi now wished he could immediately find the school leaders and finalize this matter, so as not to have long nights and many dreams. If other universities heard the news, they would definitely run over to grab the joint laboratory with Dongling High-Tech.

"Dean Han!"

Li Dongling looked at him. "Before the cooperation, I want to make three points clear in advance, so that it's better than having problems or even going to court in the future!"

"Go ahead!" Han Qianyi sat upright, looking at Li Dongling with a serious face.

"First point: The R&D expenses of the joint laboratory will be borne by Dongling High-Tech. Dongling High-Tech will use 70% of the entire R&D funding, and the remaining funding will be used independently by Hanxi Jiaotong University, Pingyang University, and other joint laboratory research institutions for experimental R&D!"

The joint laboratory was established by Dongling High-Tech, so the funding definitely needed Dongling High-Tech to take the bulk. The remaining funding would be used by Hanxi Jiaotong University and the others. Dongling High-Tech wouldn't interfere with what projects they wanted to develop. After all, to borrow these universities' R&D power, they had to give some sweetness.

"This is natural!" Han Qianyi and Liu Youguo both showed smiles. Even if they could only use 30% of the joint laboratory's funding, it was better than having nothing.

"Second point: Dongling High-Tech will entrust some key R&D projects to the joint laboratory. These projects are the most important projects of the joint laboratory. Hanxi Jiaotong University needs to assist in R&D. Of course, Dongling High-Tech will also provide salaries, bonuses, subsidies, etc., to the personnel participating in R&D from Hanxi Jiaotong University!

Third point, and also the most important point: The technology, new materials, and patents developed by the joint laboratory belong to the joint laboratory.

Dongling High-Tech has the priority right to use, acquire, and sell the patents of the joint laboratory. All schools, research institutes, research institutions, and tech personnel who join the joint laboratory cannot violate this agreement and infringe on the rights belonging to Dongling High-Tech!"

Han Qianyi and Liu Youguo looked at each other, but didn't speak at first. They weren't sure what Li Dongling meant by this.

Currently, domestic units didn't care about patents or technology at all. If a unit developed new technology or new products, as long as brother units needed it, they would authorize it for free. Sometimes they even sent people to teach them hand-in-hand. This led to a product selling well, and before long, a large pile of similar products would emerge in the market, and then before long, the market would be ruined.

Han Qianyi had a headache. According to Li Dongling's meaning, in the future, even if Hanxi Jiaotong University developed patents or technology in the joint laboratory, Hanxi Jiaotong University couldn't just let anyone use them. They all had to be approved by the joint laboratory, which meant approved by the major shareholder, Dongling High-Tech!

"I will report the situation to the school leaders!" Han Qianyi thought for a moment and said. Regardless of these requirements, Hanxi Jiaotong University couldn't miss this opportunity to "borrow a chicken to lay eggs."

Li Dongling reminded Han Qianyi, "Dean Han, the third point is the most important. If Hanxi Jiaotong University cannot agree to abide by the agreement, then Dongling High-Tech will need to find other partners. I hope you can forgive me!"

After a meal, Han Qianyi couldn't sit still and hurriedly ran to find the school leaders of Hanxi Jiaotong University.

Li Dongling didn't wait long. Fearing that the cooked duck would fly away, Hanxi Jiaotong University accepted Li Dongling's three-point agreement the next day, and Hanxi Jiaotong University joined the joint laboratory!

"Investing 15 million RMB, Dongling High-Tech and Hanxi Jiaotong University jointly establish the most top-tier R&D laboratory in the country!"

The *Hanxi Provincial Daily* suddenly reported the news that Dongling High-Tech invested 15 million to jointly establish an R&D laboratory with Hanxi Jiaotong University, which spread through the entire domestic tech industry like a thunderclap. ===== CHAPTER 60 =====