Chapter 79
Qiu Mingxiang was very efficient, and he could have spent a rare Spring Festival with his family.
But thinking of the responsibilities on his shoulders, he took a red-eye flight to Helan, where ASML is located, that day.
His old friend Dr. Byers warmly received him.
While drinking the special craft dark beer made in the pub, the two talked about the days they had worked together.
Unconsciously, Qiu Mingxiang led the topic to work.
Byers, who was already resentful, completely threw the confidentiality agreement behind his mind under the influence of alcohol.
"ASML has been established for three years and has zero market share. If it weren't for our previous technical patents, it would not have lasted until today.
In the past, Philips was willing to spend tens of millions of dollars every year to support our research and development, but now, that little money is not enough to fill the gaps in our teeth."
Qiu Mingxiang agreed with this. If it weren't for the deep foundation left by the Philips period, the company might have gone bankrupt before ASML commercialized its products.
He was very curious about what stage ASML's research and development had reached, and he was about to ask.
Byers drunkenly took the initiative to say:
"Qiu, I'll make a bet with you. In two years, integrated circuits will usher in a major change. The upgrade of mainstream chips is imminent, and the size of silicon wafers will change from 4 inches to 6 inches!"
Hearing this, Qiu Mingxiang was shocked. He certainly knew what this meant.
The existing lithography opportunities will be eliminated, and the market will be reshuffled.
And now there are four giants in the market.
None of them has developed a new generation of lithography machines, and now everyone is on the same starting line.
Whoever first develops a lithography machine that can create 6-inch silicon wafer chips can take the lead in occupying the entire market!
Qiu Mingxiang, who has both professional and business acumen, smelled a business opportunity.
If Peninsula Technology grasps this opportunity first and takes advantage of the opportunity to ring the bell to go public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange...
After he came to his senses, he suddenly found that Byers was staring at him intently!
He said so much on purpose just to observe his reaction.
"Qiu, I know how busy you are at work. You are not here just to catch up with me this time."
Qiu Mingxiang did not hide his intentions any more and told Byers exactly what Wang Lei said.
Byers was immediately moved!
Why did he study hard for many years and devote himself to the research and development of the optical machine?
If it is not just for money, what else could it be for?
Now as a research and development staff, he has been abandoned by Philips. The impoverished ASML is obviously not a good boss.
The most critical point is: now everyone is on the same starting line, he does not want to miss the opportunity.
"My boss is very rich, and he is very courageous. He is willing to continue to spend money on the research and development of the optical machine. Scientific innovation is the primary productive force. This is a sentence he often says."
Scientific innovation is the primary productive force. This sentence almost speaks out Byers's voice.
He finally succumbed to the temptation of money:
"I'll bring in a R&D person, will you really give me one million dollars?"
"Of course, my boss never regrets what he says."
Byers, who had been eager to make a move, smiled and said:
"In fact, I envied you when I heard that you were treated well after joining Peninsula. You were half my subordinate at the beginning, but I didn't expect that after two years, you have become the vice president of a high-tech company."
Perhaps it was this jealousy and his own unhappiness that made him think, if Qiu could change jobs, why couldn't he follow him to Peninsula.
So when chatting, he would complain about his current situation from time to time.
After making up his mind to switch to Peninsula, Byers also gave his old friend a bottom line:
"In fact, our team has made a major breakthrough in the research and development of the new generation of lithography machines, but the attitude of the higher-ups makes us very hesitant. They can abandon us once, and they can abandon us a second time.
After all, they are not very willing to spend money on us."
"Don't worry, any technician who makes a contribution in Peninsula will be rewarded as he deserves, and our boss never skimps on huge bonuses.
In our company, the amount of the Best Innovation Award is as high as 100 million US dollars. Although no one has received it yet, I believe that Byers can do it."
100 million! Still in US dollars.
Byers, who has not been very happy in recent years, opened his mouth in astonishment and his face turned red.
After bidding farewell to his old colleagues, he almost did not sleep all night.
After arriving at the studio the next day, Byers first found his four team members.
He is a very shrewd person. In order to achieve his goal, he is willing to give his subordinates part of the bonus that originally belonged to him.
"Everyone, I don't plan to stay any longer. Those who are willing to follow me,Everyone can get a relocation allowance of 500,000 US dollars. "
You should know that when ASML was founded, there was only 4 million US dollars in the account!
The average annual income of Helan is only 30,000 US dollars, and the income of high-tech talents is about twice the average.
This relocation allowance is undoubtedly a huge sum of money.
Without waiting for them to ask, Byers continued:
"The relocation allowance is only one of the reasons. The new company is willing to provide us with double the current salary! ”
The salary increase for job-hopping in the industry is generally around 20%~30%, and a 50% increase is generally very objective.
All four said that there was no problem and they were willing to follow Byers.
Byers immediately found ASML's president, Schmidt.
Schmidt was also troubled at this time, and he knew that ASML had reached a critical moment.
The employees were tired of his days of drawing cakes and getting excited, and the company's R&D funds were in a hurry. At least $100 million was needed to continue the development of the new generation of engraving machines.
One hundred million US dollars... Philips, with its reduced profits in home appliances, simply couldn't come up with so much money.
Just when he was having a headache about this, Byers, the team leader who was researching high-precision alignment systems, found him with a cold face.
"Byers, what do you want? If you want to ask for funds, I hope you can wait a few more days. Philips has promised me that it will help me borrow a huge amount of money from the bank. "
In the past, Byers would have understood and even expected it.
But now he just asked coldly: "How much can the loan be, $10 million or $20 million? You and I know that without $100 million in R&D expenses, it is impossible to make a product that can lead the four giants!"
Smit did not expect the other party to be so blunt today and not give him half a face.
Thinking of the importance of high-precision alignment system, Schmit could only suppress his anger and comfort Byers in turn:
"Byers, I know you are under a lot of pressure, but now is not the time to say discouraging words. We can only take one step at a time. One day Philips will realize the importance of engraving machines. When that day comes..."
"President, I can't wait any longer. I hope to complete my resignation today!"
