But infinite companies are different.

They have only been established for a short period of time and have a weak scientific research foundation. They can only use this trick to close the technological gap with Western countries.

In China during this period, it can be said that almost 100% of semiconductors and chips were imported, including mobile phones, which were also imported from abroad.

Many capable scientific research institutions have not yet realized the importance of chips, and they never imagined that this thing would be stuck in their necks for decades in the future.

One step behind, one step behind.

When time enters the 21st century, the era of information explosion.

People suddenly woke up!

In the field of semiconductors, we are already so far behind Western countries.

June 1999.

Chen Weidong was sitting in his office, drawing a sketch, and something like a rectangular box was gradually revealed.

"Is this a player?"

Rieko picked up the design drawing on the table and asked doubtfully.

She had a cold war with Chen Weidong for several days, but finally chose to forgive him. After all, he had no substantial contact with that woman.

Otherwise, this matter would never be let go of so lightly.

"This is a cell phone."

Chen Weidong put down his pen, breathed a sigh of relief, and explained to her.

In this era, full-screen mobile phones are indeed too advanced. At first glance, I thought the design was just a small display.

"Then why isn't there even a button? How do you control it?"

Rikeko frowned and looked at the drawing carefully. Ordinary mobile phones have a bunch of buttons on them, but this "mobile phone" has nothing.

"All its operations are performed by touching the screen. It can be called a smartphone."

At this time, there was no such term.

Chen Weidong's explanation is a bit abstract. Perhaps only when the actual object is taken out can Li Huizi have a clear understanding.

However, Rieko blinked again and said: "If it were all a screen, it would be too easy to break. Can the market accept such a mobile phone?"

This sentence made Chen Weidong stunned, not knowing how to explain it.

In the early days of the development of smartphones, it was not all smooth sailing. Many people said that this kind of mobile phone was all about the screen, and it would be easily broken if it was bumped or bumped.

No matter how careful you are, there will always be times when you slip and drop it, and the price of replacing a screen is very high.

Basically, it accounts for one-third of the selling price of mobile phones.

Ordinary people simply can't afford it.

This is also one of the reasons why smartphones did not explode in popularity in the early days.

Of course, what’s more important is that the software ecosystem supporting smartphones at that time had not yet been completed and could not differentiate itself from ordinary mobile phones.

The functions are almost the same as those of push-button phones.

This makes it less attractive.

It was not until later that a giant company entered the market that people truly understood the concept of "smartphones."

"As for now, it depends on the quality of the screens produced by Sony..."

Chen Weidong murmured.

At the same time, in early June of this year.

An important computer company in China held a meeting that will affect the future trend of the world's semiconductor industry.

Zhongguancun Academy of Sciences South Road, Lenovo Group Conference Room on the 6th floor.

Liu Chuanzhi and Ni Guangnan sat on both sides of the first row.

One of them is the CEO of the company, and the other is the chief engineer of the company.

In addition, more than 200 Lenovo mid-level cadres also attended the meeting.

However, before the meeting started, many people felt that the atmosphere at the scene was a bit strange, as if something big was about to happen.

"The meeting begins!"

After Lenovo Chairman Zeng Chaomao finished speaking, he handed the microphone to the representative of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Li Zhijie.

Li Zhijie lowered his head and thought for a moment, then stood up and read a document.

The specific contents will not be elaborated here one by one.

The general meaning is: Ni Guangnan is relieved of his duties as chief engineer and director of Lenovo.

In one sentence, Ni Guangnan was fired from Lenovo.

At this time, Liu Chuanzhi stood up and said with tears in his eyes: "Comrade Ni Guangnan and I have different views on Lenovo Group's technology development direction and route, as well as its specific management methods."

"For a company, it is very normal and normal for the president and the chief engineer to have different opinions, but it is abnormal when the chief engineer cannot obey the president's decision and opposes it in a fierce way...

"Although I can understand it, I cannot accept that such differences of opinion at work have developed into malignant slander of personal qualities and attempts to bring down the other party..."

Unlike Liu Chuanzhi's emotional speech, Ni Guangnan seemed unusually calm.

He did not prepare a speech script in advance, which was in sharp contrast to Liu Chuanzhi's reading from the script. He said slowly: "I have a profound experience in this science and technology conference."

"Since 1995, foreign computers have entered China in large numbers. We are facing powerful opponents, and the pressure can be imagined."

"But we at Lenovo Group are not just a company, we also shoulder the responsibility of developing the national computer industry."

"Only by independently developing core technologies and seizing the commanding heights of science and technology can we control the future trend of the computer industry and avoid being eliminated by the market."

"Lenovo should be targeting Intel in the United States. From now on, we should take action to design a chip that belongs to China. This will definitely lead to a breakthrough."

At this point, he paused and continued: "Zhongguancun, if it only relies on being a trade center, it will not last long. Silicon Valley is not a trade center, but the birthplace of new technologies."

Liu Chuanzhi snorted coldly and said: "We are an enterprise, not a research institute. We want to take the route of independent research and development. Lenovo does not have such conditions at the moment!"

"What's more, the company's annual net profit is only about one billion. Even if the chip industry you mentioned is successful, it will take several years to see returns, and there is also the risk of research failure. It is better to directly import foreign products.

How much money can be saved?”

Ni Guangnan remained silent, saying that he did not agree with each other.

It has been fifteen years since he joined Lenovo as chief engineer at the age of 45.

During this period, everyone has been working closely together, but now there are major differences.

A few years ago, he reached an agreement with Fudan University and Huanghe Computer Company to jointly establish an integrated circuit design center.

His ideas have also been recognized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the electronics industry.

He also promised that Lenovo could take the lead and organize a group of powerful computer companies to jointly participate in formulating a long-term investment plan.

However, Liu Chuanzhi voted against his proposal.

This conflict between the two sides accumulated until June 1999, when it finally broke out and ended with Liu Chuanzhi's victory.

At this point, Lenovo changed from the original "Technology, Industry and Trade" to "Trade, Industry and Technology".

Ni Guangnan left the scene quietly.

This was also the lowest moment in his life.
Chapter completed!