The next day, Chen Nian attended the regular working meeting of the Spark Team on time.
At the meeting, representatives of each project reported the latest progress of the projects. Most of the projects were in stable operation and made it clear that no new technical support was needed for the time being.
Of course, this is not because they don’t want it, but because they really can’t afford it.
The progress of the project has its upper limit. Most of the projects currently in progress have already reached the upper limit. Blindly feeding technology will only bring reverse effects. This is clear to all front-line personnel involved in the project. but.
Therefore, even if Chen Nian really hopes that major projects like Deep Blue 16 can achieve rapid breakthroughs, he still must respect the opinions of front-line personnel and give them more time.
"Taken together, the main problems we are currently facing are still insufficient resources and insufficient foundation."
"After the high-speed rail project brought us a large amount of budget and resources, due to the recent acceleration of project progress and the expansion of the project scale, the available resources on hand for our Spark team have once again reached the warning line."
"Following up, we require each project team to re-report resource usage and next year's budget so that we can conduct more detailed planning."
"In addition, part of the budget for the island building project has to come from us - don't look at me with that look. This is not a job I took on on my own initiative, it's because there is really no money from above."
"We are the fattest sheep now, and we can only harvest as much as we can."
"Of course, we have also obtained the benefits we deserve."
"After the subsequent island resource development process is launched, the Spark Group will give priority to enjoying the benefits brought by it, such as the invisible benefits brought by oil and gas, wind power, tourism, and military advantages."
"These things will be converted into budget allocations and allocated to us. But it may take a little long."
Hearing Chen Guo's speech, everyone in the conference room rolled their eyes.
There is no other reason than that the pie is too far gone!
Island building has just started over there, and you come to talk to me about the development of oil and gas resources?
Can't we wait twenty years?
Sure enough, even at the national level, we cannot get rid of the law of eating the big ones.
However, joking aside, in the most difficult time for the entire Spark project team, it was true that the superiors suspended many other key projects to provide funds for the Spark team.
Now that the team's budget is generous, it is understandable to take some of it back and use it in the most urgent areas.
If you are really short of money, just think of ways to get money.
In the conference room, someone asked:
"So what is our current overall plan? Will we keep the projects in hand unchanged for the time being? Or will we seek breakthroughs like the last high-speed rail project?"
"The high-speed rail project is currently progressing very well, and the first test run is about to start. This is a successful practice. Can we apply it?"
Hearing this question, Chen Guo turned her attention to Zhang Shuguang, the representative of the high-speed rail project.
Zhang Shuguang coughed and replied:
"In my personal opinion, the ideas of the high-speed rail project can be replicated."
"Let me summarize, from the entire high-speed rail project, we have not only saved a lot of procurement costs, technology research and development and application costs in the original plan, but more importantly, according to our current plan, we will soon be able to focus on customers in this field ”
"After the first high-speed railway line is completed and opened to traffic, we will quickly accumulate and summarize the technology and promote it nationwide."
"At the same time, we will also start to consider technology exports."
"Currently, we are already in contact with India, South Africa and other countries and have reached preliminary intentions."
"If everything goes well, we are likely to be able to replace several traditional large manufacturers and become the supplier of each other's high-speed rail projects."
"This will bring us considerable benefits and feed back domestic development."
After hearing his words, everyone present nodded.
This is indeed an excellent path.
With the help of the Spark Group's technical assistance, we will first break the monopoly of foreign capital and form our own technology, and then export the technology to other countries, and feed back the technology application process through export proceeds.
It can be said that this path is mature and stable, and can achieve good results no matter which field it is applied to.
As a result, everyone expressed their opinions one after another.
"This idea is okay, and I think we can replicate it in other fields."
"I agree. The path of the Sky Whale is basically similar to that of the high-speed rail. We have also begun to contact some European countries."
"The idea is good, but the question is, what field should we choose?"
"It must be for civilian use. Exporting military industry is too difficult and too sensitive."
Listening to everyone's discussion, Chen Nian took a deep breath and said:
"How about the TBM?"
His words sounded, and everyone subconsciously became quiet.
He looked around and continued:
"Currently, our disadvantage in the field of TBMs is obvious."
"Our demand for TBMs is increasing year by year, but the localization rate has always stagnated."
"According to the latest data, among the 603 recorded shield machines in use in my country, domestic brands account for only 12%, which is far lower than the localization rate in other industries."
"The interests are being divided by foreign capital, and we must invest a lot of foreign exchange resources every year to meet our own needs."
"If we can achieve localization in a short time, then this amount of money can also be saved."
"According to preliminary estimates by relevant experts, this figure is approximately 40 billion yuan per year."
"So, I suggest that at this stage, we should build a shield machine first."
After finishing speaking, Chen Nian sat back in his seat and waited for everyone's answers.
And the discussion started again.
"The shield machine is a good idea. The future of this kind of large and heavy machinery is very bright, and we are indeed facing a rather embarrassing situation."
"Yes, but is it enough to just build a shield machine?"
"It's not enough. In terms of construction machinery, we are very weak as a whole."
"In addition to shield machines, there are also bridge erecting machines, heavy excavators, large road cranes, high-power bulldozers, road rollers, and various types of flat trucks and load-bearing trucks, all of which have problems."
"Everyone has a problem? Why?"
"There is no reason. At present, our self-production rate of construction machinery cannot even reach 5%. The market is basically monopolized by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Komatsu, Volvo, and Caterpillar."
"We have tried to break the monopoly before, but only XCMG has made progress. It can be said that other domestic companies are still stagnant."
"Does that mean we'll do it all? Will the stall be too big?"
"There is not much difference in the core technology. It mainly consists of three parts: diesel engine, motor and hydraulic pressure. If these problems are solved, most of the problems will be solved."
"More than that, how to solve the thyristor problem in the integrated power system? Will the United States give it to us?"
"Then add one more thing."
Listening to everyone's discussion, Chen Nian's brows gradually wrinkled.
This stall is a bit big.
He had never thought before that the equipment gap in domestic infrastructure was not only reflected in big killers like shield machines, but even the excavator, which he thought was the most basic, had such a big problem!
I used to listen to advertisements every day saying "Which company has the best excavator technology?" Over time, I really formed a misunderstanding, thinking that Lan Xiang really has the strongest excavator technology.
But if you think about it carefully, even if someone is strong, the person who is strong is the operator of the excavator, not the manufacturer of the excavator!
Obviously, China is still at an early stage of using it but not making it.
We really need to solve this problem.
Thinking of this, he said:
"If we decide to start with construction machinery, we must identify several key equipment and drive the development of the entire industry through the development of key equipment. Do you have any suggestions in this regard?"
The conference room was quiet again for a moment, and then someone raised his hand and said:
"The shield machine will definitely be built, there is no doubt about it."
"Secondly, I think excavators and large road cranes should also be used. These two pieces of equipment are the most urgent problems that need to be solved at present."
Chen Nian nodded and asked:
"Any more?"
"Bridge erecting machine, gantry crane!"
"Okay, is there any more?"
"If you consider the other technical compatibility and sharing, there will be no more for now, right? Does anyone else have anything to add?"
Everyone shook their heads. Chen Nian recorded the terms of these equipment in his notebook. At the same time, he secretly designed the entries in the system and began to check the source points needed to analyze all the equipment.
According to a rough estimate, these equipment will consume at least 19 of his Source Points, and even the Source Points he has on hand now are not enough!
However, this is a prediction made on the premise of using the stupidest and most arbitrary method to analyze.
In fact, if the key technologies can be sorted out and duplicate technologies removed, source point consumption should be significantly reduced.
16 source points are definitely enough.
It’s just that after it’s finished, there won’t be much left.
Chen Nian breathed a sigh of relief, and then said:
"Then let's set our direction for now."
"Following up, I will convene relevant staff to start the project."
“You don’t have to worry too much about technical issues.”
"There is only one question we need to consider: how to implement this project into practice."
After the meeting, Chen Nian came to Chen Guo's office as usual to discuss the details of the project with him.
As soon as she entered the office, Chen Guo immediately found the report form and said in a familiar manner:
“Here’s a list of all the resources we can call upon right now.”
"This includes alternative project participating units, technical basics, main personnel configuration, and previous equipment research and development experience reports."
"It's sorted out so quickly?"
Chen Nian asked in surprise.
"It's nothing. The Spark Team now has very high authority, and many things are prepared. The expert team also used them when doing research in the early stage."
"When we were discussing just now, I had someone sort it out, knowing you wanted to use it."
Hearing this, Chen Nian nodded slightly, calmed down, and began to read the report Chen Guo gave him.
In fact, the content of the report has been greatly streamlined, and there is not much that he really needs to see.
In just half an hour, he already had a preliminary understanding of the current situation.
"So, is the most powerful construction machinery manufacturing company in China currently still XCMG?"
Chen Guo nodded and replied:
"Yes. Sanyi is also very strong, but Sanyi mainly focuses on super large equipment."
“As for China Railway Construction, we mainly rely on them to build TBMs, but they cannot play a major role in the overall situation.”
“My suggestion is that if this project is to be done, XCMG should take the lead, with SANY as the auxiliary, and China Railway Construction as the subdivided project.”
"I think so too."
Chen Nian said in agreement.
But at this moment, he suddenly noticed that Chen Guo's expression seemed a little hesitant.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
Chen Guo frowned and thought for a moment, then answered:
"There is a problem."
"It suddenly occurred to me that if we do this project, we may face more than just technical problems."
"Not just technology? Resources? Funding? Talent? What else?"
Chen Nian asked doubtfully.
"No, it's just inertia."
"inertia?"
“The inertia of dependence on imported products.”
Chen Guo said seriously.
"You know, civilian products are different from military products."
"The fighter jets, missiles, and large ships we have developed before will definitely be used as long as they are built, and they will definitely generate corresponding benefits. Therefore, this also determines that we have no worries during the entire R&D and production process."
"But civilian products are different. For civilian products, we must consider their market economic effects."
"In a word, this thing must be able to be sold."
"But now, the problem we are facing is that our various economic sectors are overly dependent on imported products."
"This dependence has even formed an inherent mindset."
"Many of our departments are currently not using imported products, because for them, the use of imported products has the lowest risk and the lowest training cost."
"I have inspected many large factories before, and there is a typical phenomenon: they will complete the procurement tasks forced by their superiors."
"However, they will not actually use the domestically produced equipment they purchase. Instead, they will just throw it aside and let it eat dust and be scrapped."
"This situation is very helpless and sad."
"But if we want to engage in civilian use, this problem is something we have to face and have to solve."
After hearing this, Chen Nian finally understood what the "inertia" that Chen Guo was talking about was about.
In the final analysis, this is still a lack of confidence in domestic brands.
Of course, this cannot be blamed on users. In fact, in the past few years, domestic brands have been too disappointing.
Not to mention the distant ones, not to mention the small ones, just how many years has the domestic semiconductor chip industry been stagnated by the Hanxin incident?
It is appropriate to distrust, after all, no one will really pay for feelings.
However, compared to Chen Guo, Chen Nian was not too worried about this problem.
After thinking for a moment, he answered:
"I'll find a way to solve this problem."
"Are you here to think of a solution? Is there any good solution?"
Chen Nian shook his head.
"There are no good solutions, only stupid solutions."
“Isn’t it enough to use force to defeat skill?”
"They are unwilling to use products of the same performance and contemporary era, so what if our products are more advanced than imported products?"
"Let me think about it. A generation ahead might not be enough."
"Let's set a small goal first, let domestic products lead similar imported products, um, 10 years."
