155: Does Chen Chen have connections with the Chinese Academy of Sciences?

"Damned Americans!"

Very few ordinary people knew about Professor Zhang's situation, but even if they did, what difference would it make?

Weren't such incidents common enough?

Whenever a core talent wanted to return to their home country to serve and drive China's technological development, the USA would always find all sorts of excuses.

Either they wouldn't let them go, or the person would meet with an "accident" or "commit suicide." Or, like Professor Zhang, they would be directly sentenced and imprisoned by the US government.

In any case, certain technologies had to remain in American hands, and they would do everything in their power to obstruct China's development.

In fact, what Chen Chen didn't know was that in the 5G era of his previous life, Broadcom alone occupied 87% of the global market share in the high-end BAW filter market. Combined with Qorvo, the two almost monopolized the global market.

That's right, just two American companies monopolized the global market.

In this market, the Americans called the shots.

"I must hurry to deploy the chip production industry. Otherwise, even if Red Star obtains the filter technology, we won't have the capacity to produce it."

Just then, Shen Rou returned, accompanied by Dr. Lu.

"Song, Shen, you two head back first and close the door."

After the two left, Chen Chen impatiently asked Dr. Lu, "Dr. Lu, is there progress on our RF module?"

Dr. Lu, his face beaming with smiles, said to Chen Chen, "President Chen, that's right."

"We have achieved staged results. I was actually thinking of drafting a report tomorrow to brief you on it."

"What stage has it reached?"

"Is the filter problem solved?"

At this, the smile on Dr. Lu's face quickly vanished. "President Chen, the filter is very difficult, mainly due to patent issues."

"We have currently solved the zero-to-one issues in frequency division modulation and reception. The filter is our key target for the next stage."

Chen Chen saw the change in Dr. Lu's expression and knew this was likely a tough nut to crack. He asked, "Where are the main difficulties concentrated? Tell me the truth—how big is the gap between China's technology in this area and that of the USA?"

"It's mainly patents. BAW filter processes require long-term accumulation of experience in MEMS acoustic structures and piezoelectric materials; the process is extremely complex."

"The patents in this area are divided between Broadcom and Qorvo. Many patents simply cannot be bypassed. This is the main issue restricting our development, and they guard these patents very closely. We can't get licenses for even slightly advanced technology."

"Overall, the gap between us and American companies is about ten years or more."

Chen Chen nodded. American companies indeed had an early start in this field, and they had built patent barriers to restrict the development of related industries in other countries, allowing them to reap high profits by monopolizing the market.

However, a ten-year gap was still startling to behold.

"Um, Dr. Lu, is it possible to overtake them on a curve in this area?" Chen Chen asked cautiously.

He was cautious because these rigorous researchers particularly loathed the phrase 'overtaking on a curve.' In their view, there was no such thing as overtaking on a curve in scientific research.

Attempting to overtake on a curve usually ended in a crash and death.

Casting a suspicious glance at Chen Chen, Dr. Lu said, "It's not that it's impossible; there is a possibility of overtaking on a curve."

"Oh?" Chen Chen grew interested. "Please, elaborate."

"President Chen, since we're talking about this, I won't hold anything back." After saying this, he specifically looked toward the office next door where Shen Rou and Song Ziwei were.

Chen Chen understood instantly and immediately led Dr. Lu into the soundproof lounge inside the office.

"This place is soundproof. Dr. Lu, go ahead."

Taking in the room's layout and glancing at Chen Chen, Dr. Lu continued, "President Chen, to overtake on a curve in this area, there is only one way."

"That is to use your connections in the Chinese Academy of Sciences and have the big shots there initiate research in this field."

Dr. Lu's words left Chen Chen completely bewildered. What Chinese Academy of Sciences? When did I ever have connections there?

If I had connections with China's top research institution, would I still be stuck guarding this tiny Red Star Semiconductor lab?

"The Chinese Academy of Sciences?"

"When did I have connections with them?"

"President Chen, since we've reached this point, there's no need to pretend. Those technologies you gave me—besides the Chinese Academy of Sciences, what other organization in the world could produce them?"

Nice try, stop pretending. Do you think I wouldn't know if you had connections?

Just based on those latest processor design blueprints you gave me—who else but the Chinese Academy of Sciences could have produced them?

You can't exactly say you stole them from Qualcomm or Fruit's labs, can you?

Or that you have a system and the system gave them to you?

Don't be ridiculous. Without state-level help, you'd want to play with flexible robotic arms? You'd want to use screen technology to enter Huaxing Optoelectronics?

You should know that China Star is basically state-owned.

"Ah, right, right. Dr. Lu, you've figured it out, so I'll be open with you."

Chen Chen saw the photo placed in the lounge and understood instantly. That photo was originally on his desk, but Manager Lu had moved it here when setting up the lounge for him.

Dr. Lu likely mistook him for a government-supported enterprise. After all, some technologies were simply impossible for ordinary institutions to produce.

This was fine too; as long as the technology wasn't particularly world-shaking, it provided a reasonable explanation.

"Dr. Lu, the elders over there called today and said their filter research has made a breakthrough. They'll bring the materials tomorrow. I was wondering how far your research has progressed and if it's possible for you to digest and absorb it."

"Really?!" Dr. Lu's eyes lit up instantly.

"Naturally. I'll bring the materials tomorrow, but it's the same as before. It must be kept secret. This is key technology for breaking through the American technological barriers."

"I understand, I understand. For the higher-ups to hand the technology to you, they must have had such a plan in mind."

Dr. Lu's mind automatically filled in the blanks: to break the US technology blockade, the state was conducting secret research. To avoid alerting the Americans by establishing a large-scale company, they specifically chose Red Star as a 'white glove' for commercialization.

"By the way, Dr. Lu, is it difficult for us to produce RF modules and filters?" Chen Chen asked another critical question. If they had the technology but couldn't produce it once the USA banned chip foundries, it would all be for naught.

"No problem. SMIC can produce them; they can be mass-produced using a 350-nanometer process."

"That's good, that's good."

Currently, SMIC had lithography machines and could mass-produce chips at 45nm and 32nm. It was said they were preparing to import several 28nm lithography machines soon, so SMIC would be capable of producing 28nm chips in the future.

After seeing off the excited Dr. Lu, Chen Chen cast another meaningful glance at that photo as he walked out.