met free Chapter 23: The Meeting Room
Chapter 23: The Meeting Room
8:50 a.m., Shuangyuan First Conference Room.
A number of people were already seated around the oval-shaped table.
The head of the table was General Manager Zhang Tianhua, and to his left were, in order, Vice President Lin Yusen, Chief Engineer Zhao from Shengyuan Group, and Shuangyuan Chief Engineer Hua Xiangyang.
On the right are the directors of several core departments, including production, R&D, and finance.
The atmosphere was heavy yet filled with curiosity.
When Yu Chen pushed the door open and came in, all eyes immediately focused on him.
He was wearing a well-fitting casual suit today, without a tie, and carrying an ordinary canvas document bag. He looked more like he was there to teach a class than to negotiate.
"Mr. Yu, come, come, sit here." Zhang Tianhua enthusiastically pointed to the empty seat next to Hua Xiangyang.
Yu Chen nodded in greeting and sat down calmly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the main purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the perovskite tandem solar cell technology proposed by Engineer Yu, and the possibility of future cooperation."
Zhang Tianhua spoke first: "Engineer Yu, why don't you start by telling everyone what you've said?"
Yu Chen did not refuse and stood up to walk to the whiteboard in front.
He didn't open the PowerPoint presentation; he simply grabbed a marker.
He said, "Everyone here is an expert, so I won't waste time with empty talk. Let's get straight to the point."
He added, "Perovskite tandem solar cells may be the next generation of photovoltaic technology because they can break the efficiency ceiling of single-junction cells. However, they face three challenges: first, insufficient stability; second, difficulty in large-area fabrication; and third, difficulty in integrating with silicon substrates."
He drew a simple structural diagram on the whiteboard and then explained it line by line.
"My idea is to start by changing the material itself. I designed a self-healing perovskite material."
"I also used a multi-layered buffer structure to better match the stress on different materials; I also developed a low-temperature manufacturing process that can apply the film without damaging the silicon substrate."
Yu Chen spoke quickly, but his points were very clear.
He provided solutions to each problem. These solutions sounded plausible and were supported by solid physical and chemical principles.
At first, Chief Engineer Zhao of Shengyuan frowned, but as he listened, his brows gradually relaxed, and he even started taking notes.
Hua Xiangyang had an excited expression on his face, as if to say, "Just as I thought" and "I knew it."
"Of course, these are all theoretical deductions and preliminary experimental designs." Yu Chen put down his pen and changed the subject. "To turn them into reality, we need money, people, equipment, and time."
"More importantly, we need a technological roadmap that is not swayed by short-term gains and can sustain long-term investment."
He walked back to his seat, took the draft equity cooperation agreement from his canvas bag, and handed it to Zhang Tianhua.
"Therefore, my proposal is: technology as equity. I will contribute the technology, the ideas, and the core solutions; Shuangyuan will contribute resources, the team, and the industrialization platform. The value of my technology will be reflected in equity. My say will be tied to my technological contributions."
The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.
Zhang Tianhua flipped through the draft, Lin Yusen remained expressionless, Chief Engineer Zhao seemed lost in thought, Hua Xiangyang hesitated to speak, and the other directors exchanged glances.
"Engineer Yu," Lin Yusen finally spoke, his voice calm, "what equity percentage do you think is appropriate?"
Yu Chen met his gaze: "In the first phase, if the laboratory prototype is successfully verified, I want 5%. Once the industrial pilot line is running smoothly, we can discuss the follow-up. My goal is not to have a controlling stake, but to have enough weight to ensure that the technological roadmap is not skewed."
"5%..." The CFO gasped. This was no small amount.
"If my technology can make Shuangyuan's product efficiency more than 5 percentage points higher than the industry average, reduce costs by more than 10%, and drive a market value increase of several billion," Yu Chen looked around at everyone, "is 5% equity a lot?"
This was an arrogant statement, but combined with his solid technical analysis just now, it left people speechless for a moment.
"Technical matters can be discussed in detail," Chief Engineer Zhao of Shengyuan said slowly, his gaze sharp as he looked at Yu Chen. "But young man, what makes you think we can consistently produce such technology? Is it a patent? Or your... non-technical background?"
Again.
The questioning of academic credentials, though late, has finally arrived.
Yu Chen smiled, a smile that was both helpless and confident.
"Chief Engineer Zhao, my background is indeed not a standard research path. But the amount of photovoltaic literature I've devoured in the past two years is probably more than many doctoral students have read in three years."
"The actual production line problems I've solved are probably more complex than those that some researchers who have only spent their lives in the lab have ever encountered."
He paused, his tone becoming serious: "Technological breakthroughs sometimes require thinking outside the box. My unconventional approach might be a perspective from outside that box, but of course, it needs real experts, like everyone here, to oversee and implement it. I need Shuangyuan, and just as Shuangyuan might need a catfish like me."
Having said all that, they acknowledged the shortcomings, highlighted the unique value, and elevated the other party to the status of a "gatekeeper."
To put it bluntly, Yu Chen took advantage of the fact that the other party had nothing to investigate.
A patent you have in hand won't lie.
Furthermore, Yu Chen has only ever mentioned cooperation; regarding the relinquishment of patents...
He is not stupid.
Chief Engineer Zhao remained silent for a moment, nodded slightly, and said nothing more.
Zhang Tianhua cleared his throat: "We have a general understanding of Engineer Yu's ideas. This matter is of great importance and requires detailed evaluation. So, let's first establish a special technical demonstration group, led by General Manager Hua and guided by Chief Engineer Zhao, to conduct an in-depth feasibility analysis of Engineer Yu's technical solution."
"At the same time, the legal and finance departments have also gotten involved to study specific cooperation models. Mr. Yu, what do you think?"
This is standard procedure, and it's the necessary caution.
"No problem," Yu Chen readily agreed. "I will cooperate fully."
The meeting discussed some details and then adjourned.
Hua Xiangyang was the first to rush over, grabbing Yu Chen's arm: "Engineer Yu! What you just said was fantastic! Those material design ideas were brilliant! When do we start working on them?"
Lin Yusen walked over and said to Hua Xiangyang, "President Hua, let's follow President Zhang's instructions and proceed with the feasibility study." Then he looked at Yu Chen, his gaze deep, "Yu Chen, Shuangyuan welcomes people with real talent and ability. But here, only results matter."
"Understood." Yu Chen nodded. "Let the results speak for themselves."
Lin Yusen didn't say anything more and turned to leave.
Yu Chen packed his things and glanced at the time; it was almost noon.
He took out his phone and texted Nie Xiguang: "The meeting's over, I've bought the pan-fried buns, see you at the archives?"
The reply came quickly: "Coming right away! (≧▽≦)"
Yu Chen smiled, picked up the paper bag containing the pan-fried buns, and walked towards the archives.
The real battle has only just begun.
But at this moment, he was even more eager to see the girl's satisfied smile as she ate the pan-fried dumplings.
Pushing open the door, the familiar smell of old paper wafted out of the archives.
Nie Xiguang was already sitting at the table, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the doorway, like a little animal waiting to be fed.
Outside the window, the sun is shining brightly.