After finishing, Yang Yunhe handed a list of equipment to Professor Wang. Professor Wang took the list, glanced at it, and was again speechless. The list contained only the most advanced equipment in the world, and the most expensive to fabricate. Even the High Energy Physics Research Institute's budget couldn't afford such luxury.
Of course, some of the equipment was simply unobtainable, regardless of the price.
"We will have all of this in the future!" Professor Wang declared resolutely.
"We have it now, and it's right here in our research institute. If Professor Wang is interested, we'd be happy to give you a tour and even let you use it!" Yang Yunhe said with a smile.
Professor Wang was overjoyed at this prospect. With such equipment, many of the problems that had been troubling them could finally be solved.
However, after the initial elation, Professor Wang felt a flush of shame. He had just boasted that his institute had everything, and now he was being openly contradicted.
Of course, Professor Wang understood that Yang Yunhe wasn't trying to show off. He was using this equipment to secure the initiative for the entire R&D plan. Without this equipment, how could he demand that they conduct research at his institute and thus gain control of the project?
For now, Professor Wang felt too embarrassed to insist that they come to his institute for development, as all the most advanced equipment was in Yang Yunhe's possession. Yet, he was also reluctant to send the institute's core staff to Yang Yunhe's research center.
As Professor Wang wavered, Yang Yunhe's tone suddenly became sorrowful. "Distinguished seniors, you have no idea how difficult and pitiful our high-energy physics project at the Jiangnan Research Center is!"
"You call yourselves pitiful with such professional and expensive equipment?" A senior figure from the research institute, who had been perusing the list, couldn't help but remark with a hint of envy.
"While our equipment is excellent, we lack the talent to operate it!" Yang Yunhe sighed. "As everyone knows, our Jiangnan Group Research Center started with chips, and our main focus has always been in the field of electronic computers!"
"We can confidently say that in the realm of electronic computers, Jiangnan Group is second to none in the world!"
"But the high-energy physics field that I am in charge of is entirely different. We are complete novices in this area. I myself transferred from aerospace engineering, and my understanding of many high-energy physics concepts is not very advanced."
"Originally, we had Professor Zhao and his two experts, but Professor Zhao has now heroically sacrificed himself. Professor Zhao is also deeply affected and suffers from a serious illness. Currently, the high-energy physics department of the Jiangnan Research Center is left with only a few of us. We urgently need everyone's help."
"So, I have a personal favor to ask: I wish to invite all of you to our Jiangnan Research Center to help enrich and improve the capabilities of our entire high-energy physics department. I implore you, distinguished seniors and teachers, please come and help us!"
"Oh, is that so? Then you truly are in a dire situation!" Hearing Yang Yunhe's words, many people showed expressions of sympathy. Professor Wang was also moved, almost agreeing immediately.
However, Professor Wang quickly realized that Yang Yunhe's words were only half-true. While their high-energy physics department was indeed weak, they wouldn't grovel for help. He was likely using this as an excuse to provide Professor Wang's institute with a dignified way to come to the Jiangnan Group's research center.
"Alas, since things have come to this, let's take this opportunity," Professor Wang sighed, preparing to concede. Just then, he heard Yang Yunhe continue, "I know that coming to our Jiangnan Research Center is a condescension for all of you. I also understand that your institute has genuine difficulties."
"Therefore, I want to make a promise: you will not be making this trip in vain. As long as you come to our research center and help us finalize the design plan, all the equipment on this list will be freely donated to the High Energy Physics Research Institute afterward, as a token of our goodwill!"
"All of it for us!" At this moment, Professor Wang couldn't help but jump up.
He had been mentally calculating the cost of the equipment, which he estimated to be no less than 500 million US dollars.
More importantly, much of this equipment was unavailable for purchase, no matter the cost. Who knew how Jiangnan Group had managed to acquire it? Yet, Yang Yunhe was offering it all to the institute with a single sentence?
"Are you absolutely sure about this? You're not deceiving us?" Professor Wang, discarding all pretense of dignity, asked directly.
"Distinguished seniors, teachers, we are all in scientific research. We are people who speak with facts. How could we possibly lie? Besides, even if I were to deceive others, I wouldn't dare to deceive the research institute. Would I still want to have a career in China's high-energy physics community?"
"And to be honest, while these items are expensive, they are nothing compared to a high-energy physics collider. For Jiangnan Group, it's merely a drop in the ocean. We won't be stingy about such matters."
"If you are still in doubt, we can sign a contract right now. Once the high-energy particle collider's design is completed and there are no major theoretical issues, all the equipment will belong to the High Energy Physics Research Institute!" Yang Yunhe stated decisively.
"Alright, it's settled then!" Professor Wang agreed without a moment's hesitation.
What if the other party reneged on their promise?
Since his people were going to the Jiangnan Research Center anyway, why not take this chance to gain more?
"Thank you, distinguished seniors. Thank you very much!" Yang Yunhe was also visibly excited. This deal might sound like Jiangnan Group was losing out, but Mr. Huang believed they were still profiting.
As Yang Yunhe himself stated, Jiangnan Group's foundation in high-energy physics was too weak. Without the assistance of the High Energy Physics Research Institute, the entire plan and project would be impossible to succeed.
Jiangnan Group had used its high-level connections to ensure the High Energy Physics Research Institute's participation in the plan. But while participation was guaranteed, whether they would diligently help complete the plan was another matter.
If the High Energy Physics Research Institute felt slighted and deliberately slowed down their research staff, it would be problematic.
Therefore, Mr. Huang had offered the equipment worth 500 million US dollars as leverage. He had also specifically stipulated in the contract that the ownership of the equipment would only be transferred after the theoretical validation of the high-energy particle collider was successful.
With this arrangement, Mr. Huang was confident that the High Energy Physics Research Institute would not dare to slack off. Buying the entire institute's dedicated effort for 500 million US dollars was a very reasonable price.
Furthermore, this arrangement ensured that the control of the project remained with Jiangnan Group. Upon project completion, Jiangnan Group would possess a team of highly proficient high-energy physics researchers, which would be crucial for the group's future development in high-tech fields.
With this leverage, future negotiations in other areas also became much smoother.
As expected, after presenting this incentive, the High Energy Physics Research Institute felt too awkward to contend with Jiangnan Group on other matters, and a cooperation agreement was successfully reached.
According to this agreement, the entire project funding would be borne by Jiangnan Group. Yang Yunhe would remain the overall project commander, with Professor Wang and the Party Secretary from the High Energy Physics Research Institute serving as deputy commanders, a standard arrangement for all projects.
The entire project's infrastructure work would be handled by Jiangnan Group. The theoretical design of the collider would be overseen by Yang Yunhe, with the Deputy Director personally leading a team of key personnel from the High Energy Physics Research Institute to work at the Jiangnan Science and Technology Research Center.
During this period, all staff from the High Energy Physics Research Institute would continue to receive their institute benefits, and Jiangnan Group would also pay them salaries according to their own standards. Similar technical breakthrough rewards would also be provided.
Essentially, apart from the rank-based rewards, other benefits would be comparable to those of regular staff at the Jiangnan Research Center.
Upon the completion of the collider's development, Jiangnan Group would own the equipment and its technical patents. However, the High Energy Physics Research Institute would receive full lifetime authorization to use these technologies without restriction, although they would not be allowed to grant sub-licenses to other institutions or organizations.
Finally, upon the collider's construction, the High Energy Physics Research Institute would have a fixed annual usage period of 120 days.
During this time, the High Energy Physics Research Institute could freely arrange for Chinese scholars to use the equipment. If foreign experts and scholars were to be involved, it would require the agreement of Jiangnan Group; otherwise, foreign personnel would not be permitted to use it.
This was essentially the agreement, and both parties were highly satisfied.
The High Energy Physics Research Institute would eventually receive equipment worth 500 million US dollars for free and their employees would receive double salaries, making them extremely pleased.
While the equipment would fully belong to Jiangnan Group in the future, and they would only hold the technical authorization and usage rights, this was more than enough for a national research institution, as they had no intention of selling it.
Jiangnan Group was also very pleased. Although the cost was substantial, the ownership of the assets was the most important aspect.