Previously mentioned, boss Huang had introduced three major policies at the research center. The first two were the review system and the job ranking system. Both of these were considered significant reforms for the entire research center, and were bound to affect the interests of many.
As the saying goes, you need to offer a carrot after wielding the stick. After addressing those who needed to be disciplined, rewards were naturally in order. Of course, the rewards boss Huang offered were quite interesting: they were things that had previously been taken from these researchers through policies, and they were called "Independent Projects!"
According to the announcement, all R&D personnel whose job ranks exceeded level 10 would have the opportunity to apply for an independent research project.
This project did not need to be related to any group's projects, nor did it require anyone's approval. As long as it was a research project you wished to undertake, in a field you longed to explore, you could directly apply for it, with almost no approval process required.
As long as the project did not interfere with the company's normal operations, did not harm the company's interests, and, more importantly, did not harm national interests, it could pass review with no other restrictions.
Simultaneously, the institute would tally the necessary funds for the project and provide support of up to 1 million yuan in R&D funding.
Furthermore, this project was for individuals, not teams, nor specifically for project leaders. As long as your job rank reached level 10, you could directly apply in your own name. While the achievements would belong to the company, the honor would be yours.
Upon seeing this policy, the researchers were both surprised and delighted. The company had not ignored their R&D needs; instead, it had legalized actions that previously required under-the-table operations, violated company regulations, and even broke the law. It provided all researchers with the opportunity to openly undertake projects they loved and were interested in, without having to sneak around like thieves, subtly benefiting from the company's resources.
Of course, the 1 million yuan R&D funding support might seem a bit meager. However, the announcement also stated that multiple researchers could jointly apply for an R&D project. In this way, each researcher's 1 million yuan R&D funding could be pooled together for use.
Even if you couldn't find collaborators, you could still use the 1 million yuan to start. As long as you demonstrated specific scientific research results during the development process, you could submit them to the company for acceptance. If the company deemed the project to have good prospects, it could then invest more funds to support your research.
If the company did not provide support, there were still other avenues. After reaching level 10, you could continue to advance your job rank. If you reached level 15, you would receive an additional 10 million yuan in R&D funding authorization.
If you could reach level 20, you would receive a one-time R&D funding support of 1 billion yuan. And beyond level 20, every subsequent level increase would grant another 1 billion yuan in funding support.
Even if your R&D project brought no benefit to the company, and you achieved no specific results throughout the R&D process, as long as you advanced your job rank, you would receive these financial resources.
Naturally, the achievements of independent projects could not be counted towards contribution points. Moreover, researchers could not dedicate themselves entirely to independent project R&D. Instead, they could only utilize their spare time.
Otherwise, if it affected their basic performance assessment and caused it to drop below 90%, their independent projects might have all R&D support withdrawn due to a one-level decrease in their job rank.
Therefore, after obtaining their own independent projects, researchers became even more diligent in their work on company projects to ensure the sustainable development of their independent projects.
In summary, upon seeing this brand-new independent project system, many researchers shed tears of excitement. What they feared most was the lack of opportunity to pursue the research they desired. Now, the company had given them that chance, as long as they could elevate their job rank to level 10.
It also intensified the competition within the entire research center. Many researchers could already imagine themselves racing in a boat overhead. But so what? As long as they could obtain independent projects and develop what they loved, they didn't mind racing overhead!
The above were all three reform measures introduced by the R&D center this time, containing both the stick and the carrot. After careful consideration, almost all researchers accepted these three reforms. There wasn't even a single person who stepped forward to cause trouble, and the entire reform proceeded very smoothly. The Jiangnan Group Optoelectronics R&D Center thus underwent a complete transformation.
When these three reform measures were announced, Ni Guangnan was already teaching at Wenzhou University. He received the specific information from a former student at the research center while on his way to class.
From a behavioral standpoint, this was somewhat of a violation, as according to the research center's regulations, all internal matters were strictly prohibited from being disclosed to outsiders.
However, Ni Guangnan was not entirely an outsider. To this day, he still maintained his identity within the research center. His identity card could still log into the research center's internal website, and he still possessed high-level access, allowing him to browse almost all of the research center's data.
"I hope your reforms are correct!" Ni Guangnan sighed deeply, then continued his lecture. In the audience, every student's face was filled with admiration.
Ni Guangnan's position at Wenzhou Jiangnan University was that of an ordinary professor. But who didn't know Ni Guangnan's standing within the Jiangnan Group!
Moreover, to show respect for Ni Guangnan, boss Huang's official public statement was that Ni Guangnan, due to his advanced age and inability to withstand high-intensity scientific research work, had retired and entered Jiangnan University to teach.
As administrative work also consumed a great deal of energy, Elder Ni only served as a professor at the university and was not responsible for any specific teaching or administrative duties. He didn't even have a fixed class schedule. However, whenever he wished to teach, he could immediately offer any course at the university, open to all students.
Consequently, whenever Ni Guangnan held a class, his lecture hall would immediately become packed. Almost all students not attending their own classes would flock to Ni Guangnan's classroom to listen to the old man's lectures.
Ni Guangnan gradually grew fond of this situation. His lectures had no fixed topics, nor did his courses have set names. He generally chose a topic to discuss based on the day's sentiment.
These topics were not mere theoretical knowledge. In Ni Guangnan's words, students could learn theoretical knowledge from their regular teachers. If he lectured too much, it might affect their understanding of knowledge.
Ni Guangnan's lectures focused more on the problems encountered when using knowledge in practical applications, and how to apply textbook knowledge to real-world scientific research. In this regard, Ni Guangnan had extensive experience. He had so many research stories and experiences that he could simply pick one incident to tell, which would captivate the students and help them avoid many potential issues encountered in specific research work – knowledge that couldn't be learned in regular classes.
The actual lecture content occupied only half the time. The other half was dedicated to chatting with the students, addressing their various troubles and psychological issues encountered during their studies, and offering encouragement regarding their aspirations and outlook on life. Gradually, many began to regard Ni Guangnan as a confidant.
"Professor, I'm going for an internship this year, and I want to go to the Jiangnan Optoelectronics Research Center. But my grades are still a bit short. Do I have a chance to work harder for it!" After looking at the message on his phone, Ni Guangnan lost the inclination to discuss specific problems. He found a chair and sat down.
This action was a tacit signal for the students, indicating that it was time for questions and conversations.
Thus, a student immediately raised his hand and asked.
"Internship this year?" Ni Guangnan was momentarily stunned, then his face showed a look of emotion. "You're the first batch of graduating students from Wenzhou Jiangnan University, aren't you? The ones who enrolled in 2004. It's hard to believe that in the blink of an eye, it's already 2007. Your first batch of students is about to embark on their working careers!"
Although typical universities had four-year programs, Wenzhou Jiangnan University emphasized the integration of production, education, and research. Therefore, except for a few specialized programs, most majors were three years of study followed by one year of internship, culminating in graduation.
Furthermore, Wenzhou Jiangnan University did not have postgraduate programs, so there was no situation where graduates from Wenzhou Jiangnan University sought to pursue further studies. They could only graduate directly and enter the workforce.
"Yes, Professor, we are finally about to begin our new lives!" The student said excitedly. During his three years at Wenzhou Jiangnan University, he had learned a great deal, far more than he had learned in three years of high school. And now, he was finally leaving the school.
"You want to join the Optoelectronics Research Center?" Ni Guangnan asked, adjusting his glasses with a smile.
"Yes, I believe scientific research is the most important thing for our company, and I want to contribute to the company, so I want to go to the Optoelectronics Research Center," the student said loudly.
"Come on, who at our school doesn't want to join the Optoelectronics Research Center! Everyone knows the benefits there are the best..." a classmate interjected mercilessly.
Since Wenzhou Jiangnan University was an enterprise-run institution, and it was clearly stated in the admission notice that upon graduation, students would first be selected by the Jiangnan Group. If selected, students were obligated to join the Jiangnan Group for at least ten years.
Only if the Jiangnan Group did not select them could they seek employment in society.
However, everyone knew at that time that the Jiangnan Group offered the best benefits. No one would be foolish enough to seek employment in society. In fact, students from the subsequent two batches basically applied to Jiangnan Group precisely because of the high probability of working for the Jiangnan Group after graduation.
This was a shortcut to success.