Chapter 417 - 255: Too Late for Regrets! Wu Ting’s Grand Gesture
Chapter 417: Chapter 255: Too Late for Regrets! Wu Ting’s Grand Gesture
He was also working on a research project: "Micro-Machine Hybrid Systems: From Free-State Control to Autonomous Intelligent Regulation Algorithms."
Professor Yang was a young scientist Wu Ting had shortlisted after having Deng Feifei vet the professors in the computer science department.
Deng Feifei had specifically asked Dean Duan of the Medical College to arrange a dinner with Vice Dean Liu Yiren of the computer science department and Professor Yang, where she presented a plan for commercial cooperation.
On behalf of Wu’s Pharmaceutical Company, Deng Feifei invited Professor Yang to join the project team for the "Controllable, Adjustable, Self-Expanding Aortic Valve Delivery System."
However, after reviewing the project plan, Professor Yang concluded that Wu’s Pharmaceutical Company was just a small startup. Furthermore, many of its products were contract-manufactured by the Jin Pharmaceutical Group.
He was also not optimistic about the prospects of Wu Ting’s project.
An autonomous intelligent regulation algorithm for an aortic valve required a combination of both software and hardware. He didn’t believe a hastily assembled project team had any future.
Professor Yang also spent some time researching the field of aortic valve replacement technology. He concluded that there was no international precedent for this kind of research and development. With Wu’s Pharmaceutical Company starting from scratch, and with a pharmaceutical company taking the lead, he believed the probability of success was far too low.
So, in the end, he rejected the offer of collaboration.
He decided it was better to continue leading his students in his own project, "Micro-Machine Hybrid Systems: From Free-State Control to Autonomous Intelligent Regulation Algorithms," which he considered purer, more theoretical research.
After rejecting the invitation from Wu’s Pharmaceutical Company, Professor Yang called a special meeting with his team members—his graduate students—to announce his decision.
"Everyone, I’ve gathered you today to talk about this because I want to remind you all that, when faced with financial incentives, we as researchers must stay true to our original aspirations."
"We must firmly reject these startups of varying quality, the kind of companies that might take our team’s concepts, use them to raise funds, go public, and just make a quick buck."
"I’ve done my research on this Wu’s Pharmaceutical Company. While it’s true they’ve achieved some success in a short time and even co-developed a bioabsorbable polymer vascular stent with Weixing Petrochemical Group, their new project—the ’Controllable, Adjustable, Self-Expanding Aortic Valve Delivery System’—is several orders of magnitude more difficult than their previous work."
"They need to design and produce both the software and hardware, solve the issue of material selection, and do it all on such a short research timeline. In my judgment, it’s highly likely to fail."
"That’s why I decisively rejected their offer. Although we could have received funding and substantial compensation in the short term, we shouldn’t waste our time on projects that are unlikely to bear fruit."
"As long as we stay true to our path and see our ’Micro-Machine Hybrid Systems’ project through to completion, it’s guaranteed to be an award-winning work that will fill a domestic void in the field."
Moved by Professor Yang’s persuasive speech, his team members were all impressed by his integrity and his refusal to sell out for a bit of money.
"Professor Yang, you did the right thing! Research should be done in a steady, down-to-earth manner, one step at a time."
"Besides, how much research funding could a startup like that really offer? How big could the compensation be? We’re better off focusing on our own theoretical research."
"Exactly. We just need to focus on our own work. Besides, the research funding available to our computer science department is on a completely different level from the Medical College’s. We don’t need to go scrambling for scraps."
Just as Professor Yang and his team were getting back to their research, the Fan City University forums exploded over a sudden announcement.
The recruitment notice for the joint project between the Medical College and Wu’s Pharmaceutical Company, as well as the "WD Research Fund" collaboration plan, had just been posted!
First, there was the establishment of the WD Research Fund. Wu’s Pharmaceutical Company and Weixing Petrochemical Group had jointly invested 50 million!
And that was just the first phase of funding!
The fund was designated to support the faculty and students of Fan City University Medical College in areas such as scientific research, the cultivation and recruitment of high-level talent, overcoming key technical challenges, and the commercialization of research achievements.
As for the recruitment announcement for the "Controllable, Adjustable, Self-Expanding Aortic Valve Delivery System" project, it had the faculty and students of the entire Fan City University practically drooling.
First, the project was exclusively open to all faculty and students of the Medical College. Upon joining and taking on tasks, members would receive a base compensation of 10,000 a month. In addition, they would have opportunities for exchange programs with various medical corporations, visits to top-tier domestic research platforms, and participation in academic events.
Moreover, anyone who performed well in the project group would be eligible for a management trainee position at Wu’s Pharmaceutical Company!
For these management trainee positions, Wu’s Pharmaceutical Company offered a starting salary of 200,000 per year for bachelor’s degree holders and 250,000 per year for master’s degree holders!
For graduates of a third-rate school like Fan City University, and in a city like Fan City, this salary and benefits package was absolutely top-tier!
Once the announcement was out, students from all the other colleges at Fan City University were green with envy.
On top of the financial compensation, project participants would also have the chance to receive official credit for the project’s achievements!
Experience on a project like this would be a massive boost to their future studies and career development.
In the end, one associate professor and 20 students from the Medical College were selected for the project, instantly becoming the envy of the entire university!
This associate professor was granted a project stipend of 50,000 a month!
Furthermore, upon the project’s completion, the Medical College promised him a direct promotion to full professor!
When the announcement came out, the faculty and students of the other colleges could only look on with envy.
But over in the computer science department, Professor Yang and his team were absolutely gutted.
Professor Yang, in particular, was reeling. He never could have imagined the compensation for this project would be so staggering. The stipend alone was 600,000 a year, and on top of that, there was a promotion to full professor waiting at the end.
Getting promoted to full professor at Fan City University was no simple matter; there was a long line of candidates waiting. But Wu Ting’s project came with its own dedicated slot—it was a blatant, officially-sanctioned fast track!
The resources, salary, and various unseen benefits that came with a promotion from associate to full professor were on a completely different level.
Professor Yang stared at the announcement, filled with immense regret.
When he did his own research, even if he managed to secure university funding, he’d only get a hundred thousand or so!
While Professor Yang was consumed by regret, his team members felt like they had taken a critical hit. They had truly, colossally missed out.
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After the "Controllable, Adjustable, Self-Expanding Aortic Valve Delivery System" project was officially launched, Wu Ting organized a get-together for the various teams to assign their respective tasks.