lerbook Chapter 169 The High-Ranking Leader's Summoning
Chapter 169 The High-Ranking Leader's Summoning
The corridor was covered with a dark green carpet that made no sound when stepped on.
Ling Yun waited in the reception room for forty minutes. On the small round table in front of him was a cup of tea, which had gone cold.
The door opened.
A young staff member in a white shirt walked in quietly. "Mr. Ling, your supervisor can see you now."
Ling Yun stood up and picked up the file folder from the chair. He followed the staff member through the corridor, past three closed doors, and stopped in front of the fourth. The staff member knocked twice, with moderate force.
"Come in."
The sound came from inside the door; it wasn't loud, but it was clear.
The staff member pushed open the door and stepped aside. Ling Yun went inside.
The room wasn't large, about twenty square meters. There was a dark-colored desk, two single sofas, and a bookcase. The window was open, and the sheer curtains billowed slightly in the breeze.
The top leader was sitting behind his desk, reading a document. Hearing footsteps, he looked up.
"Sit down." He gestured to the sofa.
Ling Yun sat down on the edge of the sofa, his back ramrod straight. He placed the file folder on his lap, his hands clasped over it.
The senior leader closed the document in his hand and put it aside. It was a report that Ling Yun had submitted yesterday, its black hard cover standing out against the dark desktop.
"I've read the report," the senior leader said, his gaze falling on Ling Yun's face. "It's well-written. It includes data, case studies, and solutions."
"Thank you, boss."
"You're welcome." The senior leader pulled a pencil from the pen holder and lightly tapped the report cover. "You've proposed fourteen specific measures, ranging from chip design to operating system development, from communication encryption to talent cultivation. If you had to choose, which one must be implemented first?"
The question came directly, without any preamble.
Lingyun's fingers tightened on the file folder for a moment, then loosened.
"Talent development," he said.
Why?
"Because all technologies require people to do them. Currently, half of the top computer science graduates in China go to the United States for further studies, and the other half go to foreign companies. Less than 10% stay in China to do basic research and development."
The senior leader did not respond immediately. He picked up the report, turned to the last chapter, where there was a table listing the destinations of Tsinghua University Computer Science Department graduates from 1992 to 1996.
Is your data accurate?
"I contacted the career guidance centers of six key universities," Ling Yun said. "The data from Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, and the University of Science and Technology of China are basically consistent."
A pencil drew a line along the edge of the table.
"Your proposed solution is university-industry collaboration." The senior leader looked up. "How exactly will it be implemented?"
Ling Yun took out a supplementary document from the file bag; it was only three pages long. He stood up and handed it over with both hands.
The senior leader took it, placed it on the table, and didn't look at it immediately.
"you say."
"Current computer education textbooks are at least five years behind the industry," Ling Yun said, sitting back on the sofa. "The knowledge students learn in their senior year is already outdated by graduation. Companies need people who can start working immediately, but schools are training people with solid theoretical knowledge but weak practical skills. This gap must be filled."
He paused for a moment, observing the expression on the senior leader's face.
The leader was listening and did not interrupt.
"I suggest establishing joint laboratories in universities. Companies provide equipment, actual projects, and send engineers to serve as part-time mentors; universities provide facilities, students, and are responsible for teaching basic theories. Students can enter the laboratory from their second year and participate in real research and development projects."
Why would a company make this investment?
"There are two reasons," Ling Yun said. "First, it allows us to identify top talent in advance. Second, it enables us to train students according to our own technical roadmap, shortening the training period after they join the company."
The senior leader picked up the supplementary material and turned to the second page. There was a flowchart there, showing the seven-year training path from the second year of undergraduate studies to the third year of graduate studies.
"Your plan takes too long," he said. "It will take seven years to train a group of people. We need people right now."
"Therefore, we also need short-term solutions." Ling Yun took out another page from the file bag. "Retraining of in-service engineers. Most of the computer technicians in various units today graduated in the 1980s, and their knowledge structure is outdated. We can help them quickly master new technologies through short-term intensive training and project-based learning."
The senior leader placed the two documents side by side and looked at them for about a minute. A breeze blew in from the window, causing the edges of the pages to tremble slightly.
"If you were to choose a university in Jiangsu Province to pilot the program," he looked up, "which one would you choose?"
The situation took a sudden turn.
Ling Yun thought for five seconds.
"Nanjing University," he said. "It has a strong computer science department, a good geographical location, and..." He paused, "Jiangsu's educational informatization construction is underway, with practical application scenarios."
The top leader nodded. He picked up the internal phone and pressed a button.
"Have Comrade Zhang Weimin from the Education Department come over here." After saying that, he hung up the phone.
Then he looked at Ling Yun.
"You mentioned in your report that you have a company in the United States that develops operating systems."
"Yes."
"Why not do it domestically?"
"There are two reasons," Ling Yun said. "First, the open-source technology ecosystem in the United States is more mature, making it easier to recruit talent. Second, if the system were developed entirely domestically, it would attract premature attention and suppression."
"And now? Aren't you worried about suppression anymore?"
"I'm worried," Ling Yun said, "but some things must be done. Operating systems are the foundation of the information industry, and we must hold that foundation in our own hands."
The high-ranking leader didn't speak. He picked up a pencil and wrote a few words on a sticky note. The words were so small that Ling Yun couldn't see them clearly from his angle.
A knock came at the door.
Zhang Weimin pushed the door open and came in. When he saw Ling Yun, he was clearly taken aback for a moment, but quickly regained his composure.
"Boss, you wanted to see me?"
"Sit down." The senior leader gestured to another sofa. "Do you know this young man?"
Zhang Weimin sat down and glanced at Ling Yun.
"I've heard of it. The founder of Spark Technology is currently bidding on a provincial education informatization project."
"I've read his report." The senior leader pushed the supplementary material over. "It's about a university-industry cooperation plan for computer talent training. I'd like to pilot it in Jiangsu first, with Nanjing University as one of the first participating universities."
Zhang Weimin took the materials and quickly glanced through them. His gaze lingered on several key data points.
"What does the Education Department need to do?" he asked.
"Three things," the senior leader said. "First, coordinate with the Computer Science Department of Nanjing University to establish a joint laboratory. Second, incorporate some of this year's provincial education informatization procurement needs into the laboratory's projects. Third, evaluate the results; I want to see the report in six months."
"Time is tight."
"That's why we need to hurry." The senior leader looked at Ling Yun. "What are your requirements?"
Ling Yun took a deep breath.
"First, for the procurement of laboratory equipment, we hope to use products from Spark Technology. We don't require exclusivity, but rather that it serve as a platform for technology verification."
Zhang Weimin frowned, but did not speak.
"Secondly, students who participate in the project and are willing to join Spark Technology after graduation are encouraged to receive policy support in areas such as residency and housing."
"Third," Ling Yun paused, "the ownership of intellectual property rights for the technological achievements developed in the laboratory needs to be clarified. If it is based on core technology provided by the enterprise, the enterprise should have priority in using it."
After listening, the senior leader looked at Zhang Weimin.
"Are you having any difficulties?"
"It requires coordination with several departments, including the school, the science and technology department, and the personnel department," Zhang Weimin said. "But it's feasible."
"Then let's proceed." The senior leader stood up.
The other two also stood up.
"The pilot program will last for one year." The senior leader looked at Ling Yun. "After one year, I want to see three things: First, how many students have been trained who can immediately engage in research and development; second, what applicable technological achievements have been produced in the laboratory; and third, whether this model can be replicated in other universities."
"clear."
"Go ahead," the top leader waved his hand. "You handle the specific details."
When Lingyun stepped out of the room, his back was already soaked with sweat. His shirt clung to his skin, and a cool breeze blew from the air conditioner in the hallway.
Zhang Weimin walked beside him without saying a word. The two walked all the way to the hotel lobby before Zhang Weimin stopped.
"Come to my office at nine o'clock tomorrow morning," he said. "Bring a detailed plan and budget."
"Yes, Director."
Zhang Weimin looked at him for a few seconds.
"Did you know that Yixiang Company is also vying for projects in the province?"
"Know."
"Then you should know," Zhang Weimin said, "that they are a subsidiary of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with connections and resources."
"I know," Ling Yun said.
Zhang Weimin nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk towards the car parked at the door.
Ling Yun stood in the lobby, watching the black sedan drive out of the hotel. He glanced at his watch; it was 3:20 PM.
He took his phone out of his backpack, turned it on, and dialed a number.
The phone rang three times before being answered.
"Professor Ni," he said, "the leadership has agreed. The pilot program will be held in Jiangsu, at Nanjing University."
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.
"Okay," came Ni Guangnan's voice. "I'll contact my old friends at Nanjing University."
"There's one more thing." Ling Yun walked out of the hotel, the afternoon sun making him squint. "Director Zhang from the Education Department wants to see us tomorrow."
"As expected," Ni Guangnan said. "Please refine the plan further, especially the part on intellectual property rights. The school will have concerns."
"clear."
After hanging up the phone, Ling Yun stood on the steps at the hotel entrance. A taxi pulled up, and he hailed it.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
Nanjing University.
The car drove onto Zhongshan Road. In August 1997, the leaves of the plane trees in Nanjing were still dark green and would not turn yellow until autumn.
Ling Yun leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. His fingers ran back and forth over the file folder; the black hardcover was already somewhat worn.
The report has been submitted.
The pilot program has been approved.
The real challenge is just beginning.