The second way?

Director Tian had heard of this AlphaFold algorithm, which was basically the same as what Xu Mang described, but what shocked him was that Xu Mang really had a special understanding of artificial intelligence, especially in one of the most challenging problems in biology, how to predict the three-dimensional structure of proteins from amino acid sequences.

He...

How is it possible that even living beings understand?

I have never heard of a physicist who can be so proficient in biology.

"Ahem!"

"Professor Xu?" Director Tian asked curiously, "How did you learn this biology? You're not a science student... Don't tell me it's all self-taught... I don't believe that. ”

however

The answer given by Xu Mang was even more nonsense.

"What's that... I have a special way of learning called the Sleep Study. Xu Mang said solemnly: "Whenever I fall asleep, many scientists in history, such as Charles Robert Darwin, will give me a tutorial on biology. ”

Director Tian: ???

This...

Isn't this fooling the two fools?

For how Xu Mang studied biology, Director Tian has chosen to give up, I am afraid this will be an unsolved mystery, the most important thing at present is to sign the relevant agreement, to reach a future strategic cooperation, the time is about the day after tomorrow, the location of the small conference room of the Modu International Hotel.

Director Tian originally wanted to choose Fuda, but then gave up this idea, and now Xu Mang's identity is more embarrassing, and rashly signing relevant agreements in the school will cause unnecessary trouble, not only Xu Mang will fall into passivity at that time, but even the school is the same.

Hang up the phone,

Director Tian directly called his colleague, Professor Zhang, deputy director of the Department of Biology, who is an authoritative expert in biochemistry and molecular biology, has a high reputation in China, and has published many important research reports internationally.

"Hello?"

"Lao Zhang!"

"Do you have time now? Please come to my office, I have an important matter to discuss with you. Director Tian said solemnly.

Professor Zhang was stunned for a moment, but when he heard the other party's extremely serious voice, he couldn't help but say, "Okay... I'll be right here!"

moment

There was a knock on the door of the office, and then Professor Zhang pushed the door in and asked curiously, "Lao Tian... What the hell is going on? so suddenly so serious, is it... You've secured a huge amount of research funding?"

Director Tian shook his head and said seriously: "It's much more shocking than this, just now I received a call from Xu Mang, he plans to develop artificial intelligence, mainly used in the prediction of protein structure, you must know that this technology is not available in China, and it is only emerging abroad." ”

"Oh!"

"This feeling is good!" Professor Zhang suddenly became interested: "If it is realized, the existing technology of the traditional laboratory can be discarded, which will greatly improve the efficiency and save a lot of expenditure, this thing is good! Very good!"

As soon as the words fell,

Professor Zhang said with a little skepticism: "Isn't Xu Mang engaged in physics? Why is it suddenly involved in artificial intelligence? And it's also a biological problem of amino acids and proteins, what does he know? And what does he not understand?"

This question,

Director Tian couldn't answer, in short, it was certain that Xu Mang knew a lot, and unlike others, he knew a lot, but there were almost zero people who could be proficient in everything, and Xu Mang was the kind of person who was proficient in everything.

"Ugh..."

"I want to know why, but one thing is clear, don't question him. Director Tian smiled bitterly: "Although he has encountered a lot of trouble recently and has involved a huge force, his own strength will not be weakened because of this reason. ”

"I remember..."

"His wife's mother's side... The strength is not weak, how did it become like this?" Professor Zhang knew a little about the internal situation, and said cautiously: "Could it be that Xu Mang has become a so-called victim?"

Director Tian shook his head and said seriously: "This is a war involving academics, don't think about it so simply, let's talk to you like this... The strength of the other party is on a par with Xu Mang. ”

Then

Professor Zhang nodded and said with a wry smile: "It seems that Xu Mang is in a quagmire, it depends on the strength of his wife's mother's side, I estimate that in the end, the two sides will reconcile, and then Xu Mang will become an academician of the Academy of Sciences, and in exchange, the large collider will be canceled." ”

"It's hard to say!"

"Don't underestimate Xu Mang's willfulness, he won't bow his head so easily. Director Tian said: "In short... Let's wait and see, and I think Xu Mang will get the final victory. ”

...

Two days later,

Xu Mang met Director Tian of the Department of Biology of Fuda University, which was completely different from his impression, Director Tian looked very young, at most about forty years old.

"Professor Xu!"

"The first time we met, even though we were both in the same school, we should have met for the first time. Director Tian was still very happy when he saw Xu Mang, and said with a smile: "What are you busy with besides artificial intelligence recently?"

"Uh..."

"This is a state secret and cannot be told to anyone. Xu Mang smiled bitterly: "Director Tian... Let's sign the agreement first. ”

"Good!"

soon

The two sides signed the agreement, and according to the content of the agreement, Fuda needs to bear 67% of the research funds, a total of about 7 million, and Xu Mang bears 33%, and the technology belongs to Xu Mang, and Fuda only has the right to use it.

The conditions are very harsh, but Director Tian is not worried, with the relationship between him and Fudan, plus the kinship between him and the president of Fudan University, even if he is cheated, then the president will go to him to settle accounts, and he is not worried about accidents at all.

"This money..."

"I'm afraid it's going to have to be done in batches. Director Tian said helplessly: "No way... Research funding is really limited, especially for those who are engaged in biology, and you should also know... How big is the dilemma of biological research, and even one academician was directly locked up because of funding and research problems. ”

The academician that Director Tian said, Xu Mang knew who it was, and in this regard... He only felt desolation, and after the desolation was endless emotion, and he was no better.

He is because of the funding, and he is because of the academic struggle.

Alas...

"I understand. ”

"For the time being, don't panic about this money, but you can't delay it. Xu Mang said: "Why do you have to give three million first, and the remaining four million are... Let's try to figure it out. ”

After talking about the above work, the two discussed the current public opinion environment of the collider, and Director Tian told Xu Mang that the current situation is very stressful, but Xu Mang is very optimistic, and he thinks that it will only be half a year at most.

Farewell to Xu Mang,

Director Tian returned to the school and found the principal of Fuda.

"Please come in!"

Push the door in,

Director Tian said: "Principal... I'm going to apply for a grant. ”

"Funding?"

"This year's funding is already very small, and if you want to apply... At least wait for the beginning of the year, right?" the second grandfather said seriously: "Anyway, you should have more than 10 million yuan left over, right? Why do you suddenly want to apply again?"

"More than 10 million may not be enough!"

"Biological research projects are all living organisms, and this money is to keep the project running, and it may not be enough. "And just now another scientific research project has been set up to use artificial intelligence to solve the problem of three-dimensional structure of proteins. ”

Second Grandfather: ???

What's the situation?

This...

This is all about artificial intelligence?

"Have you started joint research with the Department of Computer Science?" the second grandfather asked curiously.

"No!"

"Yes and Professor Xu Mang. Director Tian said seriously: "I received a call a few days ago, and he hopes to cooperate with our Department of Biology of Fuda to fill the gap in Huaguo's artificial intelligence and biological protein structure prediction." ”

“...”

"This kid..."The second grandfather said helplessly, "How much does it cost?"

"We need to bear 167 percent. Director Tian smiled bitterly: "Two-thirds, money... Seven million or so, but we can only use the technology. ”

Hearing Director Tian's words,

The second grandfather almost didn't get, good guy... I forgot my mother's home when I went out, and I used to be a professor at Fuda University.

"I..."

"Am I being blacklisted by this kid?" The second grandfather took the phone, frowned, and asked with a confused face: "I called 'beep', and the result was that the line was increased, was this blacklisted by Xu Mang?"

“...”

Director Tian didn't know how to answer this question, so after thinking about it, he shook his head at the second grandfather and said, "I... Not very clear. ”

directly called Xiao Man again, and then almost had a heart attack.

"Hello?"

"Xiao Man... Did your husband put me on the blacklist?" the second grandfather asked solemnly, "Why can't I call him?"

"Huh?"

"I... This..."Yang Xiaoman squeaked and said, "Second grandfather, I'm busy, I'm in a meeting now, I'll call you back later." ”

syllable

Hang up.

Looking at Director Tian in front of him blankly, the second grandfather couldn't help but ponder what these little two were doing?

...

The so-called money is in place, and people are in place.

Xu Mang received a payment from the special account of the Department of Biology of Fuda University, and then brought two computer engineers from Xiaoman Company, and a research team formed by three people was launched to win the first place in the protein structure prediction competition in February!

"It's actually quite simple!"

According to Google's artificial intelligence company DeepMind's AlphaFold algorithm, the second step in AlphaFold is to create a physically feasible, but almost random, fold way for a sequence. ”

Instead of using a neural network in these two steps, AlphaFold uses an optimization method called gradient descent to iteratively refine the structure. Xu Mang said solemnly: "So our core is the neural network, a brain-like algorithm that can learn from examples!"

Hearing Xu Mang's words,

The two people present glanced at each other, each seeing the fear and confusion in the other's eyes.

This...

Neural networks?

Brain-inspired algorithms?

Professor Xu's sword is pointing to the protein structure prediction competition, which is clearly a challenge to the scientific research team of Tsinghua University!

......