Reinventing the Millennium

After Ji Minghua met Bingxin CEO and CTO one after another, he did not see him as Fang Zhuo said yesterday.

Later, he attended a private banquet arranged by Mr. Hu himself, met with several R\u0026D executives, and gained a clearer understanding of the internal ecology of the ice core and his own future.

"Where is Mr. Fang?" Ji Minghua asked the teacher before leaving.

"Zhang Zhongmo's frequent actions in the south have directly increased the level of competition. Mr. Fang is busy working on this matter today. There will be a senior management meeting tomorrow. You can go with us then." Hu Zhengming replied.

Ji Minghua hesitated: "I will participate tomorrow, is this appropriate?"

Hu Zhengming asked: "Don't you plan to stay in China after leaving SMIC?"

If it is in China and not at SMIC, then Bingxin.

Ji Minghua understood what the teacher meant and stopped refusing.

If the current news is true, the Lin'an plant will quickly become an important puzzle piece for ice cores.

"Teacher, there is one more thing that I don't know if I should tell you." Ji Minghua said softly.

Hu Zhengming was originally at the door. When he heard his disciple say this, he simply continued to send him out.

"There are still people from SMIC who want to come over, like Xie Ning and Liu Yue, they all called me today." Ji Minghua said.

Hu Zhengming was not familiar with the two names given by his disciple: "This is Xie Ning and Liu Yue?"

"Xie Ning is the head of SMIC's marketing and business center, and Liu Yue is the head of SMIC's Beijing factory. They are both very capable." Ji Minghua talked about his colleagues and the situation, "Since Mr. Zhang left, Dr. Jiang has served as director Chairman, now that Wang Ningguo has become CEO, he is reorganizing the team, and the original DRAM business has been completely cut off, so many people are not satisfied."

Hu Zhengming pondered slightly, these two people were not in a low position.

Ji Minghua has nothing bad to say to his teacher: "Is it appropriate for me and Mr. Fang to mention this kind of thing? DRAM is about to be opened, and I just came to Ice Core and pulled someone..."

It would be fine if you have been working at Bingxin for a year and a half, but some colleagues and friends at SMIC are also determined to leave and cannot wait that long. However, I may be too eager and may be suspected of forming a clique.

Ji Minghua had just experienced a similar situation at SMIC and was very sensitive to such subtle perceptions.

"Minghua, you may not know that Mr. Fang has a gentleman's agreement with Mr. Zhang when it comes to digging people for ice cores. Generally speaking, he is unwilling to take the initiative to break the relationship. Even if you came over, I talked to Mr. Fang." Hu Zhengming thought about it. Then he said, "I think your situation is special. Let's do it this way. Mr. Fang and I will discuss it tomorrow."

He stopped and finally said: "I know what you are worried about, but in Bingxin, your decision-making is based on one criterion. If it is really beneficial to Bingxin, then do it. You don't have to worry about this or that, and you don't have to worry about others. How to say."

"If you are in trouble, I can handle it. If I am in trouble, Fang can always handle it."

"As long as the ice core can move forward, Mr. Fang will always be generous."

"As long as the ice core can improve, no matter what happens, Mr. Fang always has many ways."

When Ji Minghua heard what the teacher said, he breathed out slowly, feeling vaguely like he was dreaming back to the University of California.

The next morning, he really met Mr. Fang.

Speaking of which, although Mr. Fang has no bad relationship with SMIC, this is his second meeting.

Ji Minghua quickly felt the teacher's comment that Fang Fang always had "many solutions".

After returning home yesterday, he was thinking about one thing. What could Mr. Fang do to help Zhang Zhongmo improve his competitiveness? He was really surprised to hear the content of the busy work today.

"Everyone here today is responsible and our own people, so I won't make any clichés."

"Taiwan reporters are determined to engage in R\u0026D worth RMB 1 billion. I don't know how you feel about it. I'm under a lot of pressure."

There were only ten people in the conference room, and Chairman Bingxin’s voice was loud.

"In 2008, our revenue was US$1.418 billion, and our R\u0026D expenses were less than US$200 million. We were already far behind Taiwan Records, but now we are about to be pulled away again."

When Ji Minghua heard Mr. Fang's data, he was shocked. IDC's data was wrong. It was not 1.3 billion, but 1.4 billion. In this case, it had already exceeded SMIC's revenue. It was not the fifth in the world, but the fourth largest foundry in the world. !

"The day before yesterday, Professor Hu and I stated that there will be no upper limit on our research and development this year. Hey, don't be happy yet."

"It's easy to have a flood of water. Flooding is not scary. What's scary is that it doesn't reach the places where it's needed, and even if it does, it won't produce results."

"This matter requires special attention. Dr. Liang and Professor Hu, you must take good care of it."

"In addition to the R\u0026D budget, there is another matter today. I discussed it with Infineon yesterday. Bingxin will join their semiconductor technology development cooperation alliance in the near future to seek more external cooperation."

Except for Liang Mengsong and Hu Zhengming, who had already been greeted by President Fang in advance, everyone else in the conference room said "ah".

Now that Infineon is mentioned, everyone knows which semiconductor technology development cooperation alliance is.

At the earliest, Chartered Semiconductor signed an agreement with IBM in 2002 to jointly develop 90 and 65nm 12-inch wafer manufacturing processes.

Later, Infineon joined, and then Samsung joined.

Now, this is a technology alliance of five well-known companies in the industry: IBM, Charter, Infineon, Samsung and Freescale. They have also created a common platform process and used common manufacturing electrical specifications, which will help technology Easily transfer between members' facilities.

Ji Minghua is very aware of the achievements of this technical alliance, but he did not expect that Bingxin would join now.

He couldn't help but look at Mr. Fang, curious about the process.

"I always feel that we may not be able to maintain progress simply by relying on internal research and development. Well, I don't mean to distrust everyone, but you must know better than me the technological advancement of Taiji."

"This technical alliance can bring us some technical assistance."

"It's a coincidence that I recently became a minority shareholder of Infineon. Yesterday, I urgently went to Infineon to talk about cooperation. I also talked to IBM about the technology we can provide, and the matter was settled."

Fang Zhuo frowned and said: "In this alliance, each company has expertise. Our initial 45nm process foundation is not strong here. The most important thing is the FinFET process that Professor Hu and Dr. Liang are good at. This is the greatest value of ice core." .”

The 45nm process that Ice Core is testing is a threshold, and the real value is FinFET.

The two people who know FinFET best in the world are Hu Zhengming and Liang Mengsong.

This kind of cooperation can somewhat alleviate the pressure brought by Taiwanese reporters to increase their competitiveness.

In addition, the platform effect of the world-class flexible outsourcing solution created by the technology alliance is secondary. In this regard, executives on the ice core market side may be more happy.

There is no limit to the internal R\u0026D budget and external technology development alliances are sought.

This is Bing Xin's reaction to Taiwan Records' competition.

Ji Minghua was thinking more. He had just come out of Bingxin and couldn't help but compare the two hosts. It had to be said that Bingxin's reaction speed was very quick.

Fang Zhuo allowed the senior executives to digest the news for a while, and then continued: "Ice core has entered its second five years. These five years are the critical stage for whether ice core can establish itself at the first-class international level."

"Five years from now, I don't know whether Ice Core will be able to continue to obtain licenses for equipment procurement and technology introduction from the United States. I hope you all have a risk awareness on this point."

"Even if I get it, I have to say that the stronger the ice core, the more likely it is to be affected by more and more complex factors. Zhang Zhongtou from Taiwan Journal is trying to leverage this by using the so-called industry white paper."

"Then what should we do? We need to accumulate technology faster and become stronger earlier. Only in this way can Ice Core have stronger ability to withstand pressure in the future and can provide more chips."

Fang Zhuo initially expressed his understanding of important future risks internally.

He finally calmed down the slightly solemn atmosphere: "To be honest, many people outside, including in the Yike Department, say that I am most concerned about the ice core, but in fact I am also helpless. I can't do this if I don't care about the ice core. , everyone, please work harder, and if the ice core is stronger, I will strive to retire together with Professor Hu."

Hu Zhengming waved his hand and said with a smile: "Mr. Fang, no, I told Minghua yesterday that I wanted to work for a few more years. I haven't considered retirement yet."

"Okay, everyone has seen it. This is what Professor Hu said himself. Let's learn together. This is the spirit of Zhengming." Fang Zhuo collected the documents in front of him and announced the end of this high-level briefing meeting.

Liang Mengsong left quickly as usual. He felt very simple about attending the meeting today. Budget? Good thing. Technical cooperation? Good thing. it's over? OK, go to work.

Fang Zhuo has adapted to the co-CEO style and only retained Professor Liu Hu, who in turn retained Ji Minghua.

"This five-company alliance, oh, if we count it now, we should say six-company alliance, means that members have the right to use the technology jointly developed by everyone in their own production facilities."

"Professor Hu, you can discuss this with Mr. Qiu later."

Hu Zhengming smiled slightly: "I used to know about this technology alliance when I was a reporter in Taiwan, but I didn't expect that I would join this alliance now in Bingxin."

Fang Zhuo heard this and asked, "Did Zhang Zhongmo evaluate this alliance at that time?"

"He really evaluated it and said that this is nothing to worry about." Hu Zhengming replied.

Fang Zhuo sighed: "The reporter is indeed qualified to say this."

The Taiwan reporter originally defeated IBM's technical standards head-on, and this alliance was led by IBM. Joint development often has reservations, and cutting-edge technology will not be easily available.

But having said that, any promotion of ice core is good now, and many companies can’t join in if they want to.

If it hadn't happened that Infineon was at its lowest point and Bingxin had introduced some IBM technologies, this wouldn't have been possible.

Fang Zhuo talked with Professor Hu about the progress in Germany and planned to end the exchange.

"Mr. Fang, there is something I need to communicate with you." Hu Zhengming grabbed Mr. Fang.

Fang Zhuo vaguely felt that this sentence seemed familiar and signaled the professor to continue.

"How many people don't know if they can come to Ice Core?" Hu Zhengming said.

Fang Zhuo was a little surprised: "This is a good thing."

wrong!

Why does it feel like the scene is reappearing?

He was stunned for a moment, then realized that this was the opening scene when the professor asked him to talk about Ji Minghua the day before yesterday, and he seemed to have given the same answer at the time.

"No, professor, don't tell me that your students from SMIC are coming again."

Hu Zhengming shook his head and said: "They are not my students. They are SMIC CEO Wang Ningguo who is reorganizing the team. Some talents may have to be left behind. Instead of doing this, why not come to Bingxin and Minghua and introduce the situation to Mr. Fang."

Ji Minghua always reacted like this when he saw Fang, so he bit the bullet and told Xie Ning, Liu Yue and other executives the purpose of their visit.

After listening, Fang Zhuo looked at Professor Hu and said helplessly: "Professor, you know that I can't say this."

Hu Zhengming said solemnly: "Then we will reject them and not let them ice core. Let them go to the concession or Taiwanese journal."

Fang Zhuo was speechless.

Hu Zhengming tried to persuade him: "Otherwise, who else can speak up? Mr. Qiu is abroad, and he is from SMIC. I am still embarrassed at my age, but you are still young. You have to bear the thorn to apologize, and your body is strong enough to endure."

Fang Zhuo was silent, he felt that Professor Hu was getting younger as he lived.

The problem is, it doesn't matter if one person comes over. It's not appropriate to have a group of people come over suddenly, but it seems wasteful to let them go to other places.

"It's not that we don't want to recruit people from SMIC. Come over. Although Mr. Zhang and I have a gentleman's agreement, people who resign through SMIC's normal process will also join the company, but they will not take the initiative to recruit." Fang Zhuo looked at Ji Minghua, " Let’s do this, Dr. Ji, you talk to the people at SMIC and summarize it, and I’ll get it done right away. Otherwise, it’s not asking for forgiveness, it’s showing off.”

Ji Minghua took a breath and agreed simply: "Okay, Mr. Fang."

Because SMIC has withdrawn from the DRAM field, some of the people who came here this time are actually due to this factor, which also means that they will still become his colleagues in Bingxin and be considered his team. It will be easier to start work in the future.

In the evening, Ji Minghua confirmed the list and provided it to Mr. Fang. It was clear that there were 39 middle- and senior-level people involved in almost every business.

Fang Zhuo got the list, looked at the names and positions on it, and was silent for a while before reluctantly letting Dr. Ji leave.

These are not ordinary people from SMIC.

Even he was really embarrassed to speak.

Fang Zhuo read the list twice and dialed Dr. Jiang's number.

"Hello, Mr. Fang?" Jiang Shangzhou had just finished work.

Fang Zhuo said seriously: "Dr. Jiang, please apologize to me first. I want to tell you something."

Jiang Shangzhou was confused: "What do I apologize to you for?"

"I am talking to you, the chairman, as a shareholder of SMIC. I think CEO Wang Ningguo's internal actions are a bit out of control. The internal team needs to be rectified. This is right, but any talent, especially SMIC, It’s hard-won for SMIC today.”

"Internal emotions must be calmed down. This is not only a matter for individual employees, but everyone at SMIC is watching."

"If one thing is not handled well, then it is alienation."

Fang Zhuo said earnestly: "As a shareholder of SMIC, I am very worried, but it is not convenient for me to go to SMIC to talk about this. I can only place my hope on the work of you, the chairman."

Jiang Shangzhou reflected: "Mr. Fang, we may have been a little too hasty recently."

Fang Zhuo sighed: "Yeah, it's too hasty. Now 39 people have to leave SMIC to come to Bingxin. Although this number is not large, it also reflects a very important situation. I think we can ask Mr. Zhang to come back and talk to everyone when necessary. Let's talk, after all, Mr. Zhang..."

"Wait, wait, Mr. Fang, did you just say that 39 people went to the ice core?" Jiang Shangzhou interrupted.

Fang Zhuo said calmly: "Yes, so, I will talk to you about this internal governance issue as soon as I know the situation. If there is any..."

"Wait, wait, Mr. Fang, you mean, 39 people?" Jiang Shangzhou interrupted again.

Fang Zhuo replied calmly: "Yes, 39 people."

Jiang Shangzhou: "..."

These 39 people are definitely not ordinary employees.

He was silent for a while before he said sincerely: "Mr. Fang, if it doesn't work, let's stop contacting him."

Fang Zhuo also replied sincerely: "Dr. Jiang, I'm afraid if I don't contact you, half of SMIC's people will come."

As people go higher, every step forward used by SMIC was the first step for Mainland China. Now this position has become Ice Core, and every step forward is the progress of Mainland China Semiconductor.

However, something happened inside SMIC again, DRAM was cut off, and the new CEO also needed a team to implement the strategy.

Jiang Shangzhou smiled bitterly and said, "Mr. Fang, it seems that I really have to go to Qingdao."

This situation needs the help of founders to stabilize it.

"The labor pain will pass and everything will be fine. I support SMIC 100%." ​​Fang Zhuo expressed his position as a small shareholder.

Jiang Shangzhou said helplessly: "This is 100%... SMIC is almost unable to bear it."

"You have to accept it if you can't bear it. I see that Wang Ningguo said that expenditures will be strictly controlled this year. The current situation is that several competitors are increasing their budgets. If necessary, SMIC will ask ICBC to take the lead. Even if it is a loan, it cannot Relax investment in the technical field." Fang Zhuo said seriously, "This is the foundation."

Jiang Shangzhou was silent for a while and said with complicated emotions: "Mr. Fang, thank you."

"That's right. We are all united and everything will be fine." Fang Zhuo comforted.

Jiang Shangzhou took a long breath, saying this, the branches and leaves on his side are getting more and more withered, but the branches and leaves on that side are becoming more and more lush.

How to resolve this mixed feeling of blessing, sadness, relief and bitterness?

"Mr. Fang, we are in the same spirit and we have nothing to do with each other. I will go to Qingdao to see Mr. Zhang in the evening, and we will keep in touch on ICBC matters," Jiang Shangzhou said.

Fang Zhuo agreed steadily, everything was easy to talk about.