NCCnovel Chapter 156 Establishment of the Research Institute
Chapter 156 Establishment of the Research Institute
At 6:30 a.m., Yu Ying stood at the entrance of the 402 Science and Technology New Building.
The entire third floor has been opened up, creating a spacious area of 1,200 square meters. Experimental tables, server arrays, and projection systems are all in place. She pushed open the door and saw nameplates already placed on the workstations along both sides of the corridor: Space Photovoltaic Group, Brain-Computer Interface Group, and Cutting-Edge Algorithm Group—clearly labeled in three directions.
This is her third day at the company.
For the past two days, she had been reviewing materials: the space photovoltaic technology roadmap submitted by Li Guodong's team, the cross-branch integration plan compiled by Shen Yiming, and the latest cooperation memorandum from Xingchen Technology forwarded by Han Lu. She devoured the thick stack of documents in two days, listing seventeen unresolved issues in her notebook.
She marked some issues in red, indicating they needed to be resolved within a month. The top priority was microwave transmission efficiency. Currently, the highest international level was achieved in a 2019 ground-based simulation conducted by the United States, with a transmission efficiency barely reaching 68%. Li Guodong's team's theoretical model predicts it can achieve 75%, but this has not yet been experimentally verified.
Yu Ying closed her notebook, stood up, and stretched her shoulders. It was just dawn outside the window; early spring in Hangzhou still carried a chill.
Today, the research institute was officially inaugurated.
At nine o'clock in the morning, Zuo Cheng appeared on time. He was wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and he was holding a piece of silk cloth in his hand. Yu Ying walked over, and the two of them together removed the red silk covering the nameplate at the door.
The large, gilded characters of "402 Science and Technology Research Institute" gleamed under the fluorescent lights.
Applause erupted from behind.
Han Lu, Chen Hao, Liu Wei, Fang Ze, and Shen Yiming were all present. Li Guodong stood in the front row, followed by Qiu Pei and Wei Jia, and then the eight engineers he brought. Together with the original algorithm team researchers, the first batch of 43 people moved in, filling the third floor to capacity.
Zuo Cheng stood in front of the plaque, without holding a manuscript.
"The research institute's positioning is very clear: to do things that other places dare not or cannot do." His voice wasn't loud, but the entire floor was so quiet you could hear the air conditioning running. "Three directions: space photovoltaics, brain-computer interfaces, and cutting-edge algorithms. The short-term goal is to verify space photovoltaics; the medium-term goal is a breakthrough in brain-computer interfaces; and the long-term goal is the stars."
Li Guodong nodded slightly. He had dedicated his entire life to the aerospace industry, and upon hearing the words "the vast universe," his eye twitched involuntarily. At sixty-two years old, he should have been at home taking care of his grandchildren, but Zuo Cheng's three cups of coffee had brought him back to the battlefield.
Yu Ying took over the conversation.
"I've reviewed all the technology roadmaps submitted by the teams." She spoke slowly, enunciating each word clearly. "The most pressing issues are with the space photovoltaic array; breakthroughs in microwave transmission efficiency and atmospheric attenuation models are needed as soon as possible. The brain-computer interface team is still in the theoretical stage; I will provide a feasibility assessment within two weeks. The cutting-edge algorithm team is working with Shen Yiming's AI division to build up cross-functional technology reserves."
She paused, then glanced at everyone present.
"I have a rule: every Friday at 4 PM, each group leader reports to me on their progress. No PowerPoint presentations, no reports, just data and results."
No one interrupted her.
Yu Ying turned around and wrote three priority numbers on the blackboard. First priority: Space photovoltaics. Second priority: Cross-branch integration. Third priority: Brain-computer interface.
"Is there a problem?"
Li Guodong was the first to speak: "Qiu Pei and Wei Jia's space photovoltaic array requires stronger computing power; currently, the servers are insufficient. If the orbital mechanics simulation and atmospheric correction model run simultaneously, the existing equipment will have to wait in line for at least four hours."
Zuo Cheng looked at Chen Hao: "Resolve this this week."
Chen Hao nodded: "We'll expand this afternoon, starting with twenty high-spec units."
The unveiling ceremony lasted only forty minutes. Simple, efficient, and typical of the 402 style.
Han Lu had already arranged the media session outside. Reporters from three technology media outlets and two financial media outlets were waiting downstairs. Yu Ying made her first appearance as chief scientist, answering technical questions for twenty minutes.
"Dr. Yu, space photovoltaics is still in the proof-of-concept stage internationally. Is 402 confident that it will be the first to achieve a breakthrough?"
Yu Ying didn't hesitate: "402 has the most complete space photovoltaic technology team in the country, Chief Engineer Li Guodong has more than 30 years of experience in the field of launch vehicles, Dr. Qiu Pei specializes in orbital mechanics, and Wei Jia's atmospheric correction database is the only one of its kind in China. This isn't a matter of confidence, it's a matter of capability."
The reporter followed up, "So how do you view the competition with the United States and Japan in the field of space photovoltaics?"
"We don't care what others do," Yu Ying said, glancing at Zuo Cheng. Zuo Cheng stood outside the reporters' cameras, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Following the press conference, Han Lu received news that an internal email from CEFC China Energy indicated Lin Jianhua had requested the technical team to submit a competitive analysis report on space photovoltaic products within a week. Zhao Tianxing's Tianxing Capital also immediately contacted industry analysts, requesting an assessment of the impact of the space photovoltaic sector on 402's valuation.
The competitors have already begun to act.
At 2 PM, Zuo Cheng and Yu Ying walked from the third floor to the first floor, passing through the newly renovated exhibition hall. On the wall hung important moments of 402 over the past three years, from writing the first line of code in the dormitory, to defeating Huaxin at the fourth phase review meeting of Sky Dome, and then to the gathering of all five branches.
Yu Ying stopped in front of a photograph.
It was last winter. Zuo Cheng was sitting alone in office 402, with three monitors in front of him, the screens filled with code and waveforms. Han Lu took the photo secretly; Zuo Cheng had no idea that the photo had been posted online.
"Brother, did you stay up all night again back then?"
"No, they were just testing it out."
Yu Ying didn't expose him. In the photo, Zuo Cheng had obvious dark circles under his eyes, and there were three empty coffee cups on the table.
The two continued walking and finally stopped at the entrance of the research institute. Yu Ying glanced back at the lights on the third floor. The engineers from Li Guodong's team had already started working; some were adjusting parameters, others were running simulations, and the corridor was filled with the sound of keyboards being typed.
"The first thing is to prioritize," Yu Ying said. "I'll start working with Li Guodong on the technical plan for the space photovoltaic verification satellite tomorrow. If we can achieve a microwave transmission efficiency of over 80%, we'll have the opportunity to make the world's first commercial verification satellite."
Zuo Cheng looked at her.
In three years, she went from a girl with a ponytail in the library to the chief scientist of Room 402. Some changes happened gradually, but looking back, the leap was astonishing.
"Kongkong, you've worked hard."
"It's not hard work." Yu Ying turned and walked towards the third floor, but after taking a couple of steps, she turned back. "Brother, I've remembered the three verification stars you mentioned, which will be launched within three years."
Zuo Cheng stood there, watching her figure disappear around the corner of the stairs.
My phone vibrated. Han Lu sent me a message: The Energy Department of the National Development and Reform Commission will hold an expert symposium on the 14th Five-Year Plan for New Energy next month. Seats are limited. She asked if 402 should try to attend.
Zuo Cheng replied with a single word: Yes.