All professions have their own performance indicators, and professors are no exception, especially at HKUST, where young scholars like Li Mingran are required to produce research results every year. Pen Fun Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 His main research direction is algorithm and software research and development, and if he wants to produce results, he must be linked to practical applications and deal with high-tech companies.

To put it bluntly, it's not a big deal.

Another one to pull sponsorship.

The laboratory managed by Li Mingran has been conducting research and development on an 'artificial intelligence' project for a long time.

Zhao Zejun knows that in a few years, with the further development of the market economy, many professors at HKUST, such as Li Mingran, will set up their own companies or take temporary positions in various companies.

"Artificial intelligence ......" Zhao Zejun pondered for a moment.

From the perspective of long-term development, artificial intelligence has a bright future, and even this is a super topic that changes the mode of human life, one of the major trends in the future development of mankind, and the prospect cannot be overstated.

But the problem is that this 'long-term' is too long.

Until 2016, the market share brought by real artificial intelligence was not particularly large, because the topic itself was too difficult, and many high-tech technologies involved artificial intelligence, but artificial intelligence was difficult to become a business field alone.

Investing in artificial intelligence, it seems that the payback period is too long at the moment.

"Professor Li, do you have a clear goal for this project? Or is it just to conduct research on scientific and technological theories? What exactly do you do? Do you have a product?" Zhao Zejun pondered for a moment and asked a series of questions.

"We work with another key laboratory of the university to jointly research intelligent robots, and I am mainly responsible for embedded software here. Li Mingran said.

That's right, there is not much difference from what Zhao Zejun thought, the intelligent robot does have commercial value, mainly used in the production line, but the return is not large, unless the robot can be realized to carry out a full range of life services, otherwise the market is limited.

Until 2016, robot housekeepers, robot security, robot shopping guides and other technologies are not too mature.

HKUST's robots have two main functions, playing football and Go. In later generations, the football robot of HKUST is the best in the world, and the Go robot can easily abuse national players...... But what does it make business sense?

Therefore, even if it is a state key laboratory, even if it is a well-known young scholar, Li Mingran can't attract much investment and sponsorship.

"Professor Li, how much does your project cost in a year?" asked Zhao Zejun.

Li Mingran pondered for a moment and said: "There is no margin for scientific and technological research and development. However, just to ensure the continuous research of the project, four or five hundred thousand yuan a year is enough at present, and the state allocates a part of the funds, and I personally find a way to raise a part. ”

"What ......if," Zhao Zejun paused, and said, "I mean, Professor Li, if I personally fund the laboratory, whose final research results will be counted?"

Li Mingran looked straight, sat up straight, and said, "It depends on how much money you fund." ”

"According to what you just said, 400,000 a year. If it comes out, I want a 60% stake. Zhao Zejun said.

Li Mingran laughed, "It's impossible. ”

"Why?" Zhao Zejun paused, "Is it a matter of money?"

"It's not about the money. ”

Li Mingran saw that Zhao Zejun was obviously interested, so he patiently explained: "That's the case, my project is a national project, and the state and the school have funding. In other words, you can think that the state entrusted me to do this, so the final result is the state. Of course, as the person in charge, I have a relatively large decision-making power, and I am also the actual executor, and I can share a part of the rights and interests with investors...... For example, if you invest and produce results, you have priority to use the right, the right to sell, etc., or you can share a certain percentage. But it is absolutely impossible to hand over the bulk of the results to you personally. Including future commercial operations, theoretically it also needs the approval of superiors, of course, the specific operation plan is proposed by me. ”

"Oh, I get the idea. Zhao Zejun looked abrupt.

From the very beginning, he didn't expect to get this project at all, three or four hundred thousand a year, and he took it out, whether it was Zeyue or Zejian, he could support this money in a year, but it was too early to invest in artificial intelligence robots now.

There are pros and cons to investing in artificial intelligence, it can't be said that it is completely losing money, after all, it is a development trend in the future, and it is really necessary to wait until the day when the industry is hot to start investing, it is not hundreds of thousands of funds that can be played, and now enter the market, which is considered to be an investment in advance.

There is also a medium and long-term idea, Zhao Zejun is more willing to invest money in smart phones, and the embedded software applied to robots, and smart phone research and development are two fields, but they have a great degree of intersection with each other, and scientific research results can be converted to a certain extent.

"In this way, Professor Li, I can personally sponsor 200,000 yuan a year and become the first sponsor of the laboratory?" asked Zhao Zejun.

Li Mingran frowned slightly.

The first patron is more than just a title and has many tangible benefits. Once the results are achieved, the first sponsor must be the one with the greatest rights and interests among many partners.

Although from the current point of view, artificial intelligence has not yet formed an industry, and the laboratory cannot find many strong funders, in the long run, it is too little to win the first sponsor for 200,000 yuan a year.

Once the AI industry heats up a bit, million-dollar investments are not a problem.

"Professor Li, just now you said that this is a national project, so the final rights and interests belong to the state, but I have another idea. Zhao Zejun suddenly said something seemingly unrelated.

"Hmm? ”

"In the next decade, the network economy is the trend of the times, and you are an expert in computer science, which must be better than I do. ”

Zhao Zejun knocked lightly on the desk and continued: "You have also seen that Zeyue's technical strength is still weak, and it is enough to make a novel website, but if you develop products with scientific and technological content in the future, you will not be able to do it." I wonder if it is possible to establish a cooperative relationship between me and your laboratory, and if I have R&D projects in the future, your laboratory will undertake them. I will provide the R&D funds, and the results of the project will be mine. ”

"It's an employment relationship. Li Mingran said.

"I can almost think so. Zhao Zejun said with a smile: "Of course, even if it is cooperation, then not only will there be R&D funds, but your graduate students will need internships in the future, including your personal needs to conduct thesis research, and Zeyue and my personal projects can be given priority to you." ”

Li Mingran understood what Zhao Zejun meant.

The artificial intelligence project is national, but the cooperation between the two sides, and other projects are between him and Zeyue, or between himself and Zhao Zejun.

The same is the supervisor of graduate students, some tutors have a lot of projects in their hands, and graduate students are busy every day, even if they can get full exercise and accumulate experience, the tutor can also gain fame and fortune, while some tutors, with the title of professor and associate professor, have a few fixed small projects all year round, which are deserted, and even the school's scientific research paper tasks are barely completed.

It's clear which is higher and which is lower.

This is the result of the teacher's ability and the difference in social relationships.

"In addition, I would like to hire you as a technical consultant of Zeyue, not involved in administrative management, and specifically responsible for the technical guidance of Zeyue. Zhao Zejun continued.

"Do you have a project on hand right now?"

"There really is a project. The investment in this project is conservatively estimated at around 500,000 yuan. ”