After rebirth, I became a great master

Chapter 309 Project Establishment at the National Level

Apply for research and development projects at the university.

The process is very complicated.

First, issue an application notice;

Second, formal review;

Third, expert review;

Fourth, approval by the relevant authorities.

Fifth, submit the report to the relevant authorities, who will then organize an expert team for a second review.

6. Funding.

This process mainly involves two professional aspects.

It involves two expert reviews.

One initial review, one secondary review.

In the normal process, expert review requires the applicant to give an on-site presentation, clearly explaining the purpose, timeline, team structure, technical direction, and future application prospects of the project.

However, many people do not need to participate in the preliminary review.

Even a review and defense are not required.

As long as you apply for the project, the school will approve it.

For example, if Dean Cheng applies for a project, no one is qualified to review it, so basically he can research whatever topic he wants... unless his topic is unrelated to his major and will be questioned.

Zhou Haoran applied to work on the "Campus Card" project but was not granted exemption from the exam.

You need to participate in the preliminary review and defense.

Something is unusual.

And there are even more unusual ones.

Vice Principal Zhang Xuezhen, the leader in charge of funding, also participated in the preliminary review and defense session.

They call it valuing young people!
Zhou Haoran invited Qiao Hai and Yang Yuanju, both master's students, to participate in the defense.

Go and meet this vice principal!

An architecture major is in charge of project approvals for computer science majors?

What are your skills?
Unexpectedly, during the defense, I truly felt that the vice principal's arguments were well-reasoned and supported by evidence.

They're not approaching this from a technical perspective at all.

It's about calculating the economic benefits.

The campus card project that Zhou Haoran is working on requires the use of the latest international contactless IC card technology, which cannot be domestically produced and is very expensive.

The purchase price of an empty card is at least 100 yuan!

It costs 5 to 10 times more than domestically produced magnetic stripe cards.

Not only are the cards expensive, but other related equipment is also very expensive.

For example, a POS machine that reads cards.

A magnetic stripe card reader costing 2000 yuan is considered expensive. A smart card reader, on the other hand, can cost up to 1 yuan!
There are also research and development expenses.

The development of a magnetic stripe card system is simple; a library management system can be completed for 3 yuan.

How much does it cost to develop a smart card management system?
Even 30 might not be enough!

Even 50 isn't guaranteed!
The maximum approved funding for a single on-campus project is 10 yuan, which is unrealistic given the funding requirement.

And then there are the maintenance costs!
If your magnetic stripe card is damaged or lost, you can get a new one for 20 yuan.

What about smart cards?
Getting a new card will cost 100 yuan!

Who will pay for this?
The cost is borne by the students, but students these days are very poor; they don't even have 100 yuan a month for living expenses. If the school were to bear this cost, it would be a huge burden for the school as well.

Even if all these problems can be solved...

There is also the most crucial link that cannot be bypassed.

These days, national development relies heavily on foreign equipment and technology, all of which require foreign exchange to purchase. Therefore, foreign exchange is very precious and should absolutely not be spent easily.

Even for Fudan University, it is extremely difficult to apply for foreign exchange.

There must be important reasons related to national development and the livelihood of the people.

To develop a "campus smart card," we need to purchase smart cards, which requires foreign exchange from companies such as Sony, Philips, Mikron, and Infineon.

Where can I get foreign exchange?
Fudan University also has foreign exchange reserves, but is it really necessary to use these precious reserves to buy smart cards that have little practical value and are full of uncertainty?

Many experts and professors are applying for foreign exchange to buy experimental materials from abroad, but they have been waiting for approval.

How can a campus card qualify for foreign exchange?

In the 90s, major universities around the world had already implemented campus card programs, but in China, it wasn't until 1999 that Tsinghua University, which was extremely wealthy, took the lead in launching such a program.

Besides technological limitations, a significant reason is the economic aspect.

Vice Principal Zhang Xuezhen is easy to talk to and discuss things with.

They persuaded Zhou Haoran to quit.

"I can offer some advice on the technical aspects, but the funding is really a difficult issue to handle."

Dean Cheng also felt quite troubled.

Zhou Haoran frowned and said, "Why do I feel like he's trying to twist the facts with me? System development requires project funding from the Science and Technology Department. Equipment deployment should go through the Logistics Department's budget channel, right?"

"It's precisely because it's the logistics department's channel that the vice principal has more power to interfere." Dean Cheng couldn't interfere with the school's logistics department. "If it were project funding, or research and development funding from the science and technology department, spending some foreign exchange would be easier. But the logistics department spending foreign exchange on procurement is the real hurdle that can't be bypassed."

Zhou Haoran asked, "So, are we still going to do this slab project?"

"Do you want to do it?"

Dean Cheng was clearly not giving up. Zhou Haoran sensed the hidden meaning in his words and his eyes lit up. "There's still a chance?"

Dean Cheng replied firmly, "Yes!"

"How to do it?"

"Apply to become a national project!"

"what?"

Zhou Haoran was slightly stunned.

Dean Cheng said in a deep voice, "It seems very difficult to get the project approved by the university right now. Not to mention the logistics, just the research and development funding alone is beyond the reach of the university's science and technology department. Such a large project needs to be supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China."

"Is this reliable?" Zhou Haoran felt troubled. "It's just a campus card project. Do you think they'll agree to apply for a national-level research grant? Don't make a fool of yourself."

Dean Cheng said, "That depends on whether you can find a better reason for your application."

"for example?"

Zhou Haoran asked him for guidance.

Dean Cheng smiled and said, "Didn't you go abroad to Stanford University for an exchange visit? Those universities in Silicon Valley all have smart cards, and they're pushing the most cutting-edge technologies to their students."

Zhou Haoran nodded. "It's not just Stanford University, but all the surrounding universities are like this."

Dean Cheng said in a low voice, "I have inside information."

Zhou Haoran couldn't help but chuckle. "What news?"

"At the Ministry of Science and Technology's seminar, a proposal was already made stating that in order to achieve modernization, my country needs to have several world-class universities. This is the goal, and also the fighting spirit." Dean Cheng paused for a moment. "This is the intention from the highest level."

Zhou Haoran suddenly understood what he meant.

This is the "985 Project" that will be launched next year!
As a university in China that is qualified to compete for third place, Fudan University is bound to be a model project in the "985 Project". Therefore, it is necessary to carry out some applied projects that can align with the image of world-class universities.

"No wonder you said you wanted me to make a model project!"

Zhou Haoran suddenly understood.

Dean Cheng said, "This matter is still under internal discussion, but a basic consensus has been reached. The next step is to determine the specific implementation outline. I estimate that this project will definitely start within one or two years. Vice President Zhang Xuezhen doesn't have much academic expertise, so he may not know about this."

Zhou Haoran pondered for a moment and said, "So, we can bypass the school..."

Dean Cheng laughed and said, "We can't bypass the school, but we can bypass that Vice Principal Zhang. As long as the project is approved at the national level, it will become a key scientific research project within the school, and all departments will have to fully cooperate. There's no reason to make any more traditional magnetic stripe cards."

"So..." Zhou Haoran naturally placed his hopes on the other party, "Old Dean, do you have any influence?"

"There's some leeway involved."

Dean Cheng did not refuse.

The research funding for national-level projects is mainly provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, which was established more than a decade ago and initiated by a group of domestic academicians and scientists.

This group also constituted the review committee.

Naturally, they will have priority.

Zhou Haoran suddenly remembered something and smiled, "That's perfect. I might have to go to the capital soon to meet with relevant leaders. It was arranged by Director Dou."

"Is it related to your intellectual property sharing program?"

Dean Cheng had some knowledge of the matter.

Zhou Haoran said, "Yes, the internet is an important area that can affect the lifeline of the country. I'll talk to the relevant departments and get their attention."

Dean Cheng said happily, "Great, you're now at the academician level!"

"No, no!"

Zhou Haoran waved his hands repeatedly.

Dean Cheng said solemnly, "Do a good job. I still have some influence in China. If things go well and you achieve results in both your papers and applications, you'll have the opportunity to become the youngest academician in China when you're in your forties."

Zhou Haoran asked in surprise, "Isn't it only people within the system who can become academicians?"

"Huh?" Dean Cheng was slightly taken aback. "You don't want to join the system?"

Zhou Haoran said, "I don't want to be bound by those strange rules."

Dean Cheng remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "You'd better think this over carefully. Having an official position within the system makes many things much easier to handle."

"Uh……"

"If you want to have better development in academia... I mean in the domestic academic environment, it's best to have two identities. First, you can have a position within the system, in any field, it doesn't have to be a university professor. Second, you can change your nationality."

"I've never thought about changing my nationality."

Zhou Haoran couldn't help but laugh.

Let alone changing nationality, in ten or twenty years, many scientists who had scattered all over the world in their early years have given up their foreign nationalities and returned to China to develop their careers.

Dean Cheng said, "I'm not asking you to change your nationality, I'm just telling you this principle. If you only have a civilian identity, it will be difficult for you to be well-received. You're not as good as a foreigner, who can at least get a title as a foreign academician."

"Let me think about it." Zhou Haoran rubbed his forehead and said helplessly, "Actually, at first, I never intended to get into academia. I came to university to avoid attending classes, so I have to show some real skills."

Dean Cheng looked even more helpless.

I think this kid is capable and talented, but he's a bit too lazy!
"If all else fails, you can discuss it with Director Dou."

Dean Cheng gave him an idea.

"What to discuss?"

Zhou Haoran didn't want to work within the system, mainly for two reasons: one was moral, and the other was financial.

Dean Cheng actually knew this as well.

This guy has mentioned before that he might develop into a capitalist in the future, and at the same time, he might not be very clean in his relationships with women.

His position within the system was indeed a limitation for him.

"Actually, there is a way. You can talk to Director Dou and see if you can get an identity that is unknown to outsiders but is still considered part of the system..."

(End of this chapter)