Chapter 916: 912. Scientific Research Conflict (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)

Zhang Ran gained a slight understanding of the cause of the matter, then immediately asked, "So, what does Professor Zheng mean?"

"Zhang Ran, it's like this: Lao Zheng and another team have both produced the same research results, but the true credit can only belong to one team.

And actually, Lao Zheng's submission time for the paper was an hour or two earlier than theirs, but they have better connections with top-tier journals and some big names in the academic world.

As it stands now, Lao Zheng is very likely to lose, and once he loses, all of Lao Zheng's previous efforts will have been in vain.

It is even possible that he will be stripped of his title of professor," Qian Zhengkun explained.

In fact, such matters are considered a rather realistic problem in the academic world; even if you produce results, if you fail to compete against others, then such research is considered wasted.

It is very realistic, and also very cruel!

And Professor Zheng's research this time was actually something he initiated himself; at the time, he gained some inspiration by leveraging the research funds and special plants provided by Zhang Ran.

When a researcher has a flash of inspiration, it is truly unstoppable.

So, at the time, Professor Zheng directly applied to the academy for research funding, and this funding was no small sum, reaching as high as 100 million RMB.

For Professor Zheng, this was also unprecedented, and for this, he even signed a military-style pledge.

For some researchers, this is considered standard procedure; it might not be as simple and straightforward as a military-style pledge, but the meaning is the same.

Because if they didn't do this, they would have to silently watch the opportunity slip away, watching helplessly as inspiration remained forever just inspiration.

This is a situation they are unwilling to endure, so many researchers choose to go all in.

Either die in a blaze of glory, or find life through death!

Now the results are out, but the specific situation is not optimistic; the other side also produced their own research, and on top of that, they have better relationships with some top-tier journals and other connections.

So the final result is very likely to be a ruling that Professor Zheng was later, and just by that little bit, they can pass a death sentence on Professor Zheng.

After Qian Zhengkun finished speaking, he thought for a moment and added an explanation, "Lao Zheng's research, as of now, doesn't have much commercial value; its specific function is to improve scientific research, at least for now, there is no concrete commercial value.

So he didn't use the research funding you provided for this study."

You must know that in the past, Zhang Ran had given them quite a lot of research funding to let them study various topics.

Now that they have produced results, but they aren't Zhang Ran's, it is inevitable that Zhang Ran might overthink it.

Moreover, they didn't come to find Zhang Ran when there were no problems before, but now that trouble has arisen, they come to ask Zhang Ran for help; it looks a bit bad.

Zhang Ran smiled and waved his hand, saying, "It's fine, I understand what you mean. You just want me to help pull some strings to see if we can win this lawsuit? 'Lawsuit' might not be the accurate term, but it's close enough."

"It is effectively a lawsuit now," Professor Zheng sighed and said.

He then said solemnly, "Mr. Zhang, this is an unreasonable request of mine; if it is inconvenient for you, just pretend I never said anything."

In truth, coming to ask Zhang Ran for help was a last resort.

"Hasn't your academy put in any effort?" Zhang Ran asked curiously.

"The current result is already the outcome of the academy's efforts; otherwise, the result might have been announced a few days ago. The academy's maximum effort was just to temporarily drag things out," Professor Zheng said with a bitter smile.

Zhang Ran nodded and said, "Alright, I understand. I really don't have any connections in the academic world."

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw Professor Zheng about to speak, so he waved his hand to signal him to let him finish.

"Although I don't have any connections in the academic world, I do have quite deep relationships with the backers behind those laboratories.

When the time comes, I will directly contact the backers of those laboratories and have them put in some effort, or have them get some people from their labs to stand on your side.

Would that work?" Zhang Ran asked.

Regarding the academic world, Zhang Ran truly had zero connections; after all, he really didn't understand these things.

He figured that even if he tried to cozy up to them, they wouldn't even bother with him—unless, of course, he was handing over money.

"Thank you, thank you, Mr. Zhang." Professor Zheng was overjoyed.

To tell the truth, he only came to find Zhang Ran today because he was persuaded by Qian Zhengkun, carrying a bit of a 'treat a dead horse as if it were alive' mentality.

After all, while Zhang Ran is rich, when it comes to connections in the academic world, he likely has no influence at all.

But Professor Zheng had no other choice; once he failed, he would truly fall into the abyss.

At his age, he really doesn't care about money or benefits anymore.

What he cares about is his reputation!

To be stripped of his professor title right before retirement—this would make it impossible for him to ever hold his head high again.

Furthermore, failing in academic competition is equivalent to nailing the coffin shut on his lifelong scientific career, and with countless nails at that.

After all, Professor Zheng is not a true world-class master with the capital to start over countless times.

Zhang Ran smiled: "No need to thank me, we are all friends, and I naturally won't refuse to help if I can."

"Besides, you have helped me quite a bit before, and you've helped me develop quite a few patents over the past two years; I should be the one thanking you."

The reason Zhang Ran agreed so readily was indeed partly due to this factor.

Professor Zheng and his team had indeed developed quite a few things over the past two years, providing Zhang Ran with many very useful patents.

For this, Yaotian Pharmaceutical is able to collect over a million US dollars in patent fees every year!

And that is just the patent fees, not even counting the products developed based on these patents.

As he spoke, Zhang Ran didn't make Professor Zheng wait long; he checked the time, thought for a moment, and made the call.

Based on some of Professor Zheng's requirements, he selected a few laboratories; of course, he called the capital-holding parties.

Zhang Ran's influence is still quite significant, and as long as it doesn't concern their own interests, they are quite willing to do Zhang Ran a favor.

Especially with Zhang Ran's recent major moves, the Rhode Family, such a massive force, has been driven to distraction by Zhang Ran in a short period of time.

Plus, the rumor that Zhang Ran is petty is spreading within the circle, so for some small matters, everyone is willing to help if they can.

Yes, what is a massive deal to Professor Zheng is just a small matter in the eyes of some people.

After all, just as Professor Zheng said, this project's future commercial prospects are not very good.

But many things don't necessarily have to have good commercial prospects to be worth doing.