RBCT Chapter 216 Berlin Closed-Door Meeting
Chapter 216 Berlin Closed-Door Meeting
Chapter 250 Berlin Closed-Door Meeting
June 12th.
morning.
Beijing.
The State Intellectual Property Office has published the fourth core patent submitted by Su Chen.
Patent Title: [A Parameter Design Simulation Method for Submicron Node MEMS Devices and Its Adaptive Correction Mechanism].
This patent is the first of three patents that Su Chen submitted this month. The other two are still under substantive examination.
The patent title contains two key terms: "submicron node" and "adaptive correction mechanism".
This was submitted by Su Chen less than two weeks after he publicly released the technical report in early June. Following submission, he simultaneously initiated the PCT international patent process. In the same year, he also launched a "Pre-research Project on Submicron Node MEMS Process Routes".
The project was submitted by Zhou Zhiyuan to President Chen. After less than two weeks of internal review chaired by President Chen, it was submitted to the Chinese Academy of Sciences headquarters and approved as a project titled "Preliminary Research on Submicron MEMS Device Process Routes." The initial budget for the project was 3.6 billion yuan. The project duration was five years.
This stage of the quote presentation is not about discussing feasibility; it's about reporting the "result."
One sentence from Dean Chen's report was quoted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences review committee:
"Following the publication of our third-order model in Nature Materials, our partner company, Vilan, has secured industry-level collaboration intentions from three global MEMS giants. Our current theoretical lead in MEMS will not be replicated. The next round of global competition will shift to the submicron node. Our institute should plan ahead three to five years from now."
The Chinese Academy of Sciences headquarters approved the project.
Su Chen's role in Dean Chen's project was [Project Chief Consultant and Technical Roadmap Leader]. The project consisted of three phases. The first phase was "Feasibility Verification of Submicron Node MEMS Processes," with a timeframe of twenty-four months.
He understood what this launch meant.
The third-order model is just an intermediate step. Submicron nodes are the next big thing. He now needs to advance two timescales simultaneously: one is the industrialization process "from this quarter to next year," and the other is the pre-research of submicron nodes "from this year to the next four years."
……
June 15th.
morning.
Berlin.
Let Luyun Hotel's main building on the 30th floor. A closed-door conference room, where no reporters or name tags are allowed.
There was no sign hanging at the entrance to the conference room. Twelve people were sitting behind the door. They were all representatives.
The representative from Bosch was Dimitri W. Stein himself, President of the Bosch Group's DR (Radiation, Diagnostics, and Reduction) business unit. Accompanying him was Dimitri W. Maier, Director of the MEMS (Microelectronics, Mesh, and Sustainability) business unit.
Infineon's representative was Chief Technology Officer Klaus Weber, accompanied by Reinhard Hoffmann, Vice President of Strategy at Infineon.
The representative from STMicroelectronics was Mario Rinentti, STMicroelectronics' newly appointed Chief Technology Officer. Rinentti took over after Bertoli's reassignment. Accompanying him was the Senior Vice President of STMicroelectronics' MEMS business unit.
In addition, there were representatives from three second-tier companies. All of them were invited to participate.
The meeting started at 4 a.m. and was expected to last until 7 p.m. The sole theme was: "How to deal with Wei Lan."
Dimitri Stein chaired the meeting.
He only said three sentences at the beginning.
"Today is not the occasion for a welcoming speech. What needs to be said cannot be defended." "Defend with professional decorum. The next person to speak should state their position first."
He sat down.
Mario Rinenti was the first to speak.
He's a newcomer. He needs to make a statement.
"The Italian-French Group believes that the Vilan project is not something that can be forced. What we need to discuss now is not 'whether or not we can accept Vilan,' but 'at what price can the Italian-French Group obtain the license.'"
He retorted, "I hope STMicroelectronics can also obtain some kind of exclusive rights. For example, authorized agency in the European market, or priority inclusion in the next materials family in a materials expansion agreement."
He finished speaking. He glanced at Weber and Stein.
This is a statement made "behind the scenes." Both of your families are ahead of her. Italy and France can only try to take something from you now.
Weber speaks.
"Infineon's position is that Vilan does not accept exclusive terms. I went to Shanghai in person last week. Lin Wei clearly stated that Vilan will not use exclusive licensing for any cooperation with any company."
He added, "The three companies can only differentiate themselves based on terms of service, pricing, and joint technology projects. They cannot differentiate themselves based on control."
Stein spoke.
"Bosch has agreed. Bosch has reached a preliminary cooperation framework for using the 400mm pilot production line as a joint verification platform. This platform will be open to alliance companies. However, as the host, Bosch will have priority in the order of operations."
He added, "Welcome Italy and France and Infineon to the team, but they will be relegated to the second position."
The representatives from the three subsidiary companies spoke. Their words were brief. The message was: Join. Join. Join.
They all understood one thing: in three years, domestic MEMS production capacity would be reordered based on the Vilan production line simulation system. Those who didn't get involved would fall behind.
The first round of speeches is over.
This is the main battlefield.
But Reinhard Hoffmann raised his hand to speak.
He is the Vice President of Strategy at Infineon. He is not the Chief Technology Officer, but he is an important person in the President's Office at Infineon.
"I have a different opinion."
He said this without even looking at Weber.
"What Shen just heard was, 'Today. Wei Lan is very strong right now. Wei Lan is in the lead right now. But this is now.'"
He glanced at Rinnetti, then at Stein.
"The third-order model essentially illustrates one thing: existing MEMS devices can be predicted using more precise models. But this is only a 'cure for the root cause of existing devices'."
"The next-generation MEMS architecture is not this issue. The next-generation MEMS architecture is one that 'starts with submicron nodes and aims for atomic-level precision.' In this architecture, the third-order model is merely an intermediate term. It requires a five-order interval, quantum correction, and atomic-level precision."
He retorted, "Whichever company can break through the submicron node within three years, and whichever company can break through the atomic layer precision within five years, will be able to rearrange the order in the next round. Vilan may not be able to."
He has finished speaking.
There was silence in the conference room for several seconds.
Rinnetti raised his hand.
"That's what Mr. Hoffmann said. STMicroelectronics has considered it. Last week, STMicroelectronics launched a project called 'Preliminary Research on Submicron MEMS Process Roadmap,' with a budget of 290 million euros. At the same time, a joint project with QuantumLab was also launched."
Weber also raised his hand.
"Infineon has also considered this. Infineon will launch a 'next-generation MEMS architecture pre-research' project this month. The budget is 360 million euros."
He added, "But Mr. Hoffman, with Vilan's current assets, technology, industry alliances, and reputation in the capital market, she is the most likely winner in the next round of restructuring. Not the only possibility, but the most likely."
"What we need to do is not to 'fight against Wei Lan.' It's to 'be able to sit at the same table with Wei Lan in the next round.'"
Hoffman glanced at Weber. He didn't speak, but he nodded.
This is an important move. Hoffmann was originally a proponent of war. He's not against it now. He's just asking for this.
Stein spoke.
"Bosch agrees. Bosch launched the 'Next Generation MEMS and Non-MEMS Architecture Pre-research' project in the second quarter of this year. The budget is 600 million euros, which is the highest among the three companies."
He added, "But Bosch agrees with Mr. Hoffmann's view. Now is not the time to confront Villand. It is the time to stand shoulder to shoulder with Villand and simultaneously rehearse the next generation."
No one in the meeting room objected.
The three parties have reached an implicit consensus.
I. At this stage, the main focus will be on negotiations with Vilan. Robust questioning, alliance boycotts, and supply chain pressure will not be employed. The key differentiators will be financial terms, service terms, and joint verification.
Second, they will simultaneously launch preliminary research on next-generation architectures. The combined budget of the three companies exceeds one billion euros. The timeframe is three to five years.
Third, by the latest this quarter, all three companies will reach some form of cooperation agreement with Vilan. Regardless of whether an agreement is reached, the competition will be about who gets what.
The three implicit consensuses were verbally summarized by Stein. No one objected.
The meeting ended at 6:50 p.m.
The organizers provided bread and salmon. Everyone ate a little. No one spoke much.
Hoffman walked up to Weber before leaving. They worked for the same company, but they didn't always walk the same way.
Hoffman whispered something in Weber's ear. It was brief.
"Klaus, the next round will not be about who Vialan signs with. The next round will be about whether any of us can stay at the table she will be sitting at three years from now."
Weber glanced at him.
"I know."
Neither of them said anything more. They walked out of the meeting room together.
……
June 15th. 9 PM. Berlin time.
It's 3 a.m. in Shanghai.
Lin Wei was woken up by her phone vibrating.
It's Jiang Mingyuan.
"The closed-door meeting in Berlin has ended. Yang Bo obtained a summary of the meeting. The three parties have reached three implicit consensuses."
Yang Bo was Jiang Mingyuan's project consultant in Berlin. A young German. He wasn't a participant in the closed-door meeting, but he had access to some of the participants.
Jiang Mingyuan uploaded three posts.
First, the main approach will be negotiation with Wei Lan. No resistance measures will be employed.
Second, simultaneously launch preliminary research on next-generation architecture. The three companies will contribute over one billion euros in total. The timeframe is three to five years.
Third, all three companies will reach some form of cooperation agreement with Vilan within this quarter.
Lin Wei did not reply immediately after reading it.
She got up and went to the balcony.
It's 3 a.m. in Shanghai. The lights on the other side of the Huangpu River are lights.
She took out her phone and sent three sentences to Jiang Mingyuan.
"Understood. These three points are all implicit consensuses. I will not agree."
"In the next round of negotiations, Vivian's offer can be raised to another level."
"But the most important point is the second one: pre-research on next-generation architecture."
A few seconds later, Jiang Mingyuan replied with three words.
"clear."
The three companies are jointly conducting research on next-generation architecture worth over one billion euros. If they win, Vilan will go from being a "leader" to a "follower" in three years. If they lose, Vilan will go from being a "leader" to "outside the race" in three years.
This is the problem that Wei Lan is now facing.
Lin Wei looked at the Huangpu River at night.
She sent another message: "Have Jade participate in the pre-listing research for the Vilania micrometer node project."
This was a decision that involved overcoming five hurdles.
Jade is a financial negotiation intermediary. He is not affiliated with Vilan. He is an external consultant recruited by Vilan for the next round of negotiations. "IPO preparation research" means that Vilan will not go public within the next 4 years, but will go through the IPO process within the next 3 to 4 years. After going public, Vilan will have capital reputation to fund the preliminary research of the next-generation architecture.
This decision was made by Lin Wei three hours after the closed-door meeting in Berlin.
It's 3:30 a.m. in Shanghai.
Lin Wei sent another message, this time to Su Chen.
"Professor Su, the submicron node project needs a five-year technology roadmap this week. We need to submit it to Vilan, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the IPO consultants preparing for the next four IPOs. The roadmap needs to clearly define the priorities and dependencies for inter-node connectivity, atomic-level precision, and quantum correction. Thank you."
Su Chen saw the message at 3:40 a.m.
He had just gone to bed. Today was three days after he and Chongchong went to Yuexiu Market. He had planned to get a good night's sleep tonight.
But after reading the message, he gave a firm reply. Then he turned and got out of bed.
He walked to his desk and turned on his computer.
He started a new document.
Title: Five-Year Technology Roadmap for Submicron Node MEMS Devices (Working Draft)
He wrote an outline on the first page.
I. Submicron node process validation (starting this quarter ⏺ this quarter + 24 months)
II. Atomic-level precision description framework (starting from this quarter + 12 months ⏺ this quarter + 36 months)
III. Quantum Correction Promotion (Starting this quarter + 24 months ⏺ This quarter + 60 months)
IV. Joint investigation project with the Quantum Laboratory (to commence this quarter + 18 months)
This roadmap goes beyond the third-order model. They need to see what comes after the third-order model.
Su Chen wrote for an hour.
He added another item.
V. Development of a talent pipeline across the entire alliance (to be launched this quarter ⏺ long-term)
He wrote a note: "The next generation of architecture doesn't need one person. It needs a team."
He closed his laptop.
He glanced at the time. It was 4:20 a.m. in Shanghai.
He went back to the bedroom.
Chongchong was asleep in the other bedroom. His high-speed train was at 3 pm today. He set an alarm for Chongchong for 2 pm.
Su Chen lay down.
He won't get much sleep tonight. But he needs to lie down for a while.
We'll continue tomorrow. We'll continue next year. We'll continue working on the next generation of architecture.