Chapter 307: A Market That Moves After Hearing the Wind

The experiments at the Sarot Research Institute are proceeding step by step. These days, Lu Zhou has been dealing with the affairs of the Jinling Computing Materials Research Institute, and has not paid attention to anything else.

But what he didn't expect was that in the second week after the seminar ended, he saw his name in the news, and it was put together with lithium-sulfur batteries and hollow carbon spheres.

The article gave an overview of the symposium on lithium-sulfur batteries, but did not use any gimmicky titles and texts, but simply quoted the views of the professors on lithium-sulfur batteries.

Among them, Lu Zhou is naturally indispensable.

Recently, the market is extremely sensitive to the term new energy, and a slight disturbance can blow up a gust of wind.

Especially Lu Zhou's own point of view, the impact is particularly obvious.

Even if it is just a few quotes, it will be marked with key points and interpreted in key points.

After all, the door to lithium batteries was opened by him.

After reading the report, Lu Zhou was quite surprised.

I don't know who released the news, and I didn't inform him.

But it doesn't really matter, this kind of thing is not an airplane, cannon, atomic bomb, and the specific production technology may be used as a commercial secret by the company, but the theoretical thing, I haven't heard of anyone researching it and hiding it. , not to mention that the things discussed at the meeting can't even talk about the results.

And those who are qualified to take transcripts at that kind of meeting may be reporters from the central media, after all, they are no longer interested in making a fortune by making a fuss.

Leaving aside other things for the time being, some people agreed with Lu Zhou's research and development direction of hollow carbon spheres, while others expressed criticism.

Approving voices believe that hollow carbon spheres are a promising direction in carbon-sulfur composite materials. Although they have many black spots, if those problems can be solved, they may indeed become the key to solving the shuttle effect.

As for the voice of criticism, Lu Zhou should not make such remarks publicly before there are major results. It would be irresponsible to use your influence to publicly support an immature technology.

In fact, Lu Zhou was quite helpless.

What he said was right, but it was not his fault to let the words out.

Of course, the critical voices are still a small part, and they haven't developed enough to attract his attention. And compared to other people's evaluation of him, there are more worthy things waiting for him.

In the second week after Qian Zhongming and Liu Bo went to Europe, the first batch of experimental equipment was already in place.

But what Lu Zhou didn't expect was that not only these experimental equipments arrived at the Jinda laboratory building together, but also Umicore's CEO, Mr. Carodit.

After getting off the special car at the entrance of the laboratory building of Jinling University, this proud Belgian enthusiastically extended his right hand from a long distance away and greeted him with strides.

"My dear friend, nice to see you again, how are you doing?"

With the patent of modified PDMS material, Umicore's recent performance in overseas markets is as happy as the expression on his face.

In order to enter this field, their old rivals BASF Group and Nichia had to obediently pay a high "entry fee".

Whether it is the securities market or the material market, Umicore is in good shape. Especially the BASF Group, under the pressure brought by the irreplaceability of lithium battery anode materials, they had to give up the joint US Argonne National Laboratory to sue Umicore on the issue of ternary battery patents.

Because of this series of good news, Kalodite's position on the board of directors has naturally increased.

If it wasn't because Lu Zhou was a man, he swore that he would definitely fall in love with her uncontrollably.

Of course, this is just an exaggerated metaphor, in order to show the excitement in his heart.

"Not bad." After shaking hands with Mr. Callodite, Lu Zhou gave him a strange look and asked in a casual tone, "What brought you here?"

Although he had borrowed Umicore's transportation channel when purchasing the equipment, even if it was delivery, the CEO of the group would not come in person.

Regarding Lu Zhou's inquiry, Karodite smiled heartily.

"Do you still remember our agreement? Thanks to you, we have won consecutive victories in the lithium anode material market. I am here to visit you this time, mainly to talk to you about the spoils of war."

With a look of interest on his face, Lu Zhou asked, "How much?"

"BASF Group and Nichia Chemicals paid US$50 million and US$70 million for patent licensing fees for lithium anode materials, in exchange for two to three years of production authorization in the global market except the Huaguo market. At the same time, they produced For one ton of anode materials containing modified PDMS films, we have to pay us $1,500."

With a bright smile on his face, Kalodite continued, "One hundred million US dollars of licensing fees and advance payments have already arrived. According to our agreement, half of these spoils belong to you. I don't know How do you want us to pay you this amount?"

After thinking for a while, Lu Zhou said: "After paying off the final payment of the instrument manufacturer, the remaining part can be directly converted into RMB according to the current exchange rate and transferred to the account in our country."

Due to the five-year tax-free policy, the money was transferred directly to the account of the Jinling Institute of Computing Materials, and it was only necessary to report an account without additional tax deduction.

As the instruments pass through the customs one after another, the research institute here will soon start experiments, and the corresponding research funding must also keep up.

Originally, Lu Zhou planned to inject funds from the Xingkong Technology account to the domestic account, but now it is obviously unnecessary to be so troublesome.

Umicore has a branch in China, so we can just ask them to do it for us. I believe they will be happy to help.

Just as Lu Zhou expected, Kalodite readily agreed.

"No problem, I will handle this matter according to your request!"

Although he came to Huaguo this time to send money, it was not enough for him to make a special trip to Huaguo, let alone put such a bright smile on his face.

The reason why he was so attentive was naturally because of another thing.

After showing his sincerity and the spirit of the contract, Mr. Carlodite then smiled hospitablely and revealed the real reason for his trip.

"That's right, I heard that you are currently researching lithium-sulfur batteries?"

There is nothing to hide from such a public matter, Lu Zhou said casually: "Forget it, the shuttle effect in lithium-sulfur batteries is a very interesting proposition, and I do have plans in this regard recently."

Upon hearing that, Karodite immediately rejoiced and said: "What a coincidence, we are also very interested in research related to lithium-sulfur batteries. I wonder if you need to invest?"

Although he expected that Carlodite would ask such a question, and was ready to refuse, Lu Zhou couldn't help but tease: "Do you think I still need to invest?"

Of course, Kalodite would not give up so easily, and tried to persuade: "But don't you want to share the risk? I know you are very confident, but scientific research is like a gamble, and no one can guarantee that their experiments will definitely produce results. We are willing to share 70% of the research cost, and I guarantee that this figure will be more than 400 million US dollars! In contrast, we only ask for 50% of the research results, and I believe that it is absolutely impossible for anyone to offer more favorable conditions than us."

What Carrodite said was true, indeed, no one could make such a condition.

If he hadn't fought a good battle in the lithium anode material patent case, even if he was the CEO of Umicore, he would never have dared to put such a gamble proposal on the board meeting table.

However, this condition may seem difficult to refuse in the eyes of colleagues, but to Lu Zhou, it is a bit tasteless.

Ten thousand steps back, he threw a lot of money in but couldn't make it out, and there was one last backup option.

That is to spend a lot of points and seek help from the system.

However, he will not consider this option until he spends half of the $400 million.

Although the experience of system tasks has been expanding, the points rewarded each time the task is completed has never changed much. From this point, it is not difficult to see how precious those points are.

Unless he encounters a problem that cannot be solved, he still intends to solve it with his own strength.

Shaking his head, Lu Zhou said, "Until I lose all my chips, I won't consider borrowing chips from other gamblers for the time being."

Kalodite looked at him with disbelieving eyes: "lose all the chips? God...you are crazy, you plan to invest all your money? That's 400 million US dollars, don't think about it Consider it?"

Lu Zhou smiled and said in a relaxed tone: "From a business point of view, this is indeed not a rational investment, but I am not a businessman, and we have different starting points for thinking about problems."

If it's just for profit, why doesn't he invest in real estate?

Obviously, doing research is not as good as getting money for infrastructure construction.