rpbooks Chapter 219 Wei Lan Headquarters
Chapter 219 Wei Lan Headquarters
June 26th.
early morning.
Shanghai, headquarters of Vilan.
Jiang Mingyuan walked into Lin Wei's office. The folder in his hand weighed down a stack of papers.
The top one is the "Vilan Simulation Service Order Queue Details".
"Of the more than 300 companies on the list of those authorized for secondary authorization, at least 231 are in the queue," Jiang Mingyuan said. "Second-tier companies outside the alliance are also joining the queue, leaving more than 200 waiting."
Lin Wei glanced at the table. The right-hand column listed "Expected Deployment Time." 51 companies were scheduled for deployment within three months, 118 within five months, and all those scheduled for deployment before the end of the year were included. The total was 231 companies.
Jiang Mingyuan continued.
"We have 150 people in the simulation deployment department at Vilan. We plan to recruit 300 by the end of this year, but we actually need at least 500, but we can't recruit them."
"There aren't many people at the mid-level or higher. Those with over ten years of MEMS experience, capable of on-site parameter tuning and deployment, number no more than a thousand nationwide." He paused. "The alliance companies themselves need these people; they won't release them to Wei Lan."
Lin Wei understood the problem.
Vilan's simulation deployment is a service, not just software that can be installed and run. It requires on-site engineers to tune, verify, and optimize parameters for each production line. Each deployment takes one to three weeks and requires manpower.
People are the bottleneck.
"The four companies that have been granted secondary licenses," Lin Wei said.
"North China Microelectronics, AMEC, ACM Research, and Sinyuan Microelectronics. They can only contribute a maximum of one hundred people," Jiang Mingyuan said. "The second round of licensing negotiations is still ongoing, and the initial offer will be withdrawn in about 30 days."
Lin Wei glanced down at her watch; it was 7:30.
"How much of Weilan can be transferred to President Tao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences?" Lin Wei asked.
"The Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, can provide 80 people for 'production line process verification,'" Jiang Mingyuan said. "But they are doing 'production line verification,' not 'on-site deployment.' They can handle 'submicron node verification.'"
This was mentioned in last week's group discussion. The submicron node process verification project is a Chinese Academy of Sciences project launched by Dean Chen himself. It's a 3.6 billion yuan project that requires extensive production line process verification. Vilan can delegate the entire "production line verification" stage to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The Weilan on-site deployment team can then be established.
"I'm transferring to the Chinese Academy of Sciences," she said. "This week, Wei Lan will collaborate with the Chinese Academy of Sciences."
"Yes"
Jiang Mingyuan picked up his phone, intending to report to Dean Chen, when his phone rang.
It was a number he didn't recognize, a Beijing area code, and it displayed three characters.
"Zhou Jihua,"
Jiang Mingyuan was taken aback. He didn't recognize the name. But he had heard of it before. He stood up to answer the phone.
"General Manager Jiang," came the voice on the other end. "I am Zhou Jihua, Director of the Electronic Information Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology."
Wei Lan's contacts with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) over the past few months have been primarily through Dean Chen. She's always acted as an academic advisor within the "industry participation" framework. Wei Lan hasn't actively contacted the MIIT much; today, it was "the Director of the Electronic Information Department of the MIIT who personally called."
"Director Zhou, hello."
"General Manager Jiang, I called you here today for something," Zhou Jihua said. "Three Europeans will be arriving in Beijing the day after tomorrow, June 28th."
"Di W. Maier, President of Bosch MEMS Business Unit".
Mario Linenthi, the new Chief Technology Officer of STMicroelectronics.
"Reinhard Hoffmann, Vice President of Strategy at Infineon."
Jiang Mingyuan's expression changed slightly; he recognized those three names. These three were representatives from three MEMS giants who had met behind closed doors in Berlin, and all three were scheduled to travel to Beijing simultaneously.
It's not going to Shanghai, it's going to Beijing. It's not going to Weilan, it's going to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
"And there's Bruno Mu, the new president of the International Electrotechnical Commission, who just took office on the 29th of last month," Zhou Jihua continued.
"This meeting marks the resumption of negotiations by the IE Standardization Group."
Jiang Mingyuan understood.
Eight weeks ago, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) changed its chairman. The former chairman was Bertolt, from Italy and France. After the publication of Villen's paper, Bertolt was reassigned as "senior advisor to the group." The new chairman is Bruno Müller, a German with a neutral background.
Three representatives and a neutral chairperson arrived in Beijing simultaneously. This was the start of the "IE Standardization Group restarting negotiations."
The resumption of negotiations indicates that the three industry giants are prepared to withdraw their original objections to the Villon model, arguing that it was "insufficiently explained," "reliant on existing models," and "unsuitable as an international standard." This signifies their readiness to have the IE Standardization Group re-accept a new round of negotiations centered on the Villon third-order nonlinearity.
This is "bad behavior in the tech world".
It is not "commercial procurement".
"President Lin and Su Chen need to go to Beijing at the same time," Zhou Jihua said. "The higher-ups will approve it before tonight, and you'll board the high-speed train after midnight tomorrow."
"The meeting will be held at 3 PM on June 28th at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse." "Dean Chen, colleagues from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the State Intellectual Property Office—this is the 'circle' handed down by higher-ups."
Even Jiang Mingyuan couldn't escape it.
"I understand," he said.
He hung up the phone and turned to look at Lin Wei.
The three parties need to talk.
Lin Wei didn't speak. She glanced at the stack of "Weilan Simulation Service Order Queue Details" on the table.
She understood.
Vilan Simulation Deployment received approval to target 3000 companies, the Chinese Academy of Sciences' industrial output increased by 50 billion yuan, STMicroelectronics' stock price plummeted, and Japanese materials stocks also plummeted. On June 15th, a closed-door meeting in Berlin saw three companies reach three implicit consensuses. On the 20th of this month, a secondary meeting will be held to review Hoffmann's proposal to shorten the timeframe to 18 months.
The three companies were put on the stage.
"Tomorrow at midnight," she said.
Su Chen: "Yes."
Jiang Mingyuan walked out of the office.
He walked into the corridor, picked up his phone, and sent a message to Su Chen: "Tomorrow morning in Beijing, Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. 3 PM, IE Standardization Group restarts negotiations."
Su Chen replied a minute later: "Okay."
Jiang Mingyuan did not elaborate further.
He understood that when Su Chen saw the phrase "Standardization Group restarts negotiations," Su Chen knew that the three companies were going to fight. He understood how much Su Chen understood, and he also understood how much the three companies would have to give.
Wei Lan was thrust into a position that no one had anticipated.
From "commercial procurement intermediary" to "a name that can set international technical standards".
This was a position that Wei Lan couldn't even imagine five months ago.
……
June 28th. 3 PM.
The east wing on the second floor of Building 8 at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.
The meeting room has rectangular tables, not round ones.
On the Chinese side sat six people: Zhou Jihua, Director of the Electronic Information Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Chen, Director of the Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; a deputy director of the High-Tech Department of the National Development and Reform Commission; and a deputy director of the State Intellectual Property Office. On Wei Lan's side were Lin Wei and Su Chen.
Four people sat on the European side: Bosch Demeyer, Italian-French Rinnetti, Infineon Hoffmann, plus a second-level spokesperson, Senior Vice President of AMS.
The chairman, Bruno Muller, sat at one end of the conference table. He was the new chairman of the IE Standardization Group and was a neutral party who chaired the meeting.
Müller began by saying three sentences.
"The three representatives prepared a 'Proposal for Reopening Negotiations by the IE Standardization Group,' which includes three points."
"First, the three parties agree to withdraw the three objections they raised last year: 'Insufficient explanation of the Villan third-order nonlinear model,' 'Dependence on common sources,' and 'Unsuitability as an international standard.'"
"The second and third parties agree to act as joint initiators, working with Vilan to advance the new IEC MEMS standard based on third-order nonlinearity."
"Third, the three companies are willing to pay a total of 45 million euros in cash for a 'European region usage license' for the simulation system and various key downstream architectures. The deployment of the usage license will not be handled by Vilan; the three companies will deploy it themselves."
Muller paused for a moment.
"These are the proposals prepared by the three representatives. Please give your opinion, Weilan."
Lin Wei glanced at the document pushed in front of her, but didn't pick it up.
She glanced at Bosch Dummell, a pacifist who was the one who proposed "no exclusive deals" and "the main theme of negotiations with Villon" at the closed-door meeting in Berlin on June 15.
She glanced at Rinenti, a pacifist and the new CTO of Italy and France. He had replaced Bertoli, the former president of the IEC.
Hoffman is a proponent of war; he was the one who proposed compressing the next-generation architecture to 18 months last week. He sits there today, his eyes cold. He's defiant; he was forced to come.
Of the three, two advocated for peace, while one advocated for war.
Lin Wei circled the pen in her hand.
She continued, "Villan agrees to accept the joint initiative of the three companies to create a new international MEMS standard based on third-order nonlinearity."
Zhou Jihua glanced at Lin Wei, but didn't interrupt. Lin Wei was the joint spokesperson for the Chinese side.
"But Wei Lan can't accept it," Lin Wei said. "'A European region usage license.'"
She paused for a moment.
"Vilan will not issue 'regional usage licenses.' Vilan will not divide the simulation system by region; the simulation system is global."
"Weilan wants something else."
"What Vilan wants is the 'Villan submicron node process roadmap' as the backbone of the new standard. The three companies are merely 'joint initiators,' while Vilan is the 'backbone drafter.' Vilan sets the main roadmap, and the three companies follow it."
There was silence in the conference room for several seconds.
Dimaier's eyes flickered; he heard it. Rinenti's expression shifted; he heard it too. Hoffman's cold eyes turned to burning embers; he heard it as well.
Dimaier spoke first.
"What does it mean to use the Vilan submicron process route as the main line?" he asked.
"This means that in the future, the downstream industry chain of the new standard, including the three of you, will need to follow the Vilan route in terms of production equipment, EDA, and materials," Lin Wei said. "After you obtain the prototype of the next-generation architecture, in the new IEC standard with the Vilan route as the main framework, you will be in the position of 'follower,' not the one that sets the standard."
Rinengti's facial muscles twitched.
Hoffman slammed his hand on the table. He wasn't there as a pusher; he'd been called in as Infineon's representative, but he was the only one present who advocated for a fight.
"This is Vilan blocking the route restrictions," he said. "Infineon will never accept this. Infineon can accept joint initiatives and licensing, but it cannot accept that 'Infineon will not be the backbone of the downstream supply chain for the next thirty years.'"
Lin Wei glanced at him.
She wasn't angry.
"Three years ago, Vilan was just an architecture manager in a niche lab at Shanghai Microelectronics," she said. "Three years later, Vilan refuses to accept that 'Villan won't be the backbone of the downstream industry chain for the next thirty years.'"
Within three years, Wei Lan went from "insufficient explanation" to "mainstay". Nothing in the next thirty years will prevent Wei Lan from reaching "mainstay".
This was the harshest statement, and several people in the conference room glanced away.
Hoffman didn't flinch; he watched as the fire in Lin Wei's eyes turned to ice.
"Na Ying Fei Ling has withdrawn," he said.
Everyone in the meeting room looked up at him. He couldn't back out of this; it meant Infineon wouldn't follow. Infineon's lack of support meant the implicit consensus of the three companies at the closed-door meeting in Berlin had been shattered.
Hoffmann glanced at Dimmel, then at Rinentti. Neither of them would go with him; this was the first public spat between the three parties since the closed-door meeting in Berlin.
Müller raised his hand.
"We'll have a 20-minute break between meetings," he said. "Please proceed to the east wing, room number 5."