Chapter 902
Collective Support!
Lin Haoran was certainly not a fool.
He is indeed willing to invest in the semiconductor industry.
But the premise is that the investment must be valuable, returnable, and able to truly establish oneself in this industry.
He wasn't the kind of foolish, rich nouveau riche who would invest in anything and then abandon it.
On the contrary, the reason why Lin Haoran was able to build a business empire spanning real estate, finance, retail, energy and other fields in just a few years was because of his precognitive abilities and clear mind brought about by his second life.
He had a general understanding of the future development trend of the semiconductor industry, and with the presence of Zhang Zhongmou, an industry giant, he was more confident in the future of Oracle Semiconductor than anyone else.
This is the biggest reason why he dares to say that "Oracle Semiconductor's R&D investment will have no upper limit in the next ten years!"
"At the same time, I am also pleased to announce that although Oracle Semiconductor is a newly established company, we have already reached preliminary cooperation agreements with Texas Instruments, Intel, Motorola, Toshiba, Hitachi, NEC, Philips, Siemens, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi, National Semiconductor, and AMD!"
"They will support the development of our Oracle Semiconductor company and become our first partners!" Lin Haoran continued with a smile.
Although it was only an initial collaboration, merely giving Oracle Semiconductor an opportunity, it was enough.
For a newly established company, gaining the recognition and support of twelve global semiconductor giants is nothing short of a miracle.
Below the stage, apart from the leaders of the 12 giants, the other people, including reporters and heads of other semiconductor companies, were immediately in an uproar.
They looked at the stage with disbelief, then at the twelve powerful figures in the front row, each with a different expression.
Grove smiled and nodded slightly, seemingly confirming Lin Haoran's words.
Kobayashi Koji pushed up his glasses, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Galvin laughed heartily and waved to the reporters around him.
Even Xia Bai, though his expression was complicated, did not deny it.
This scene speaks for itself.
"My God..." a reporter muttered to himself, nearly dropping his camera.
"A newly established semiconductor company, backed by all twelve giants in the semiconductor industry? How is that possible?"
"What's impossible?" A veteran tech reporter next to him took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Who is Lin Haoran? Last month's wedding was reported by the global media, with the Queen of England officiating and three major magazines covering it simultaneously. What could someone like that do easily?"
“But, but that’s semiconductors!” another reporter shook his head incredulously. “This industry has extremely high barriers to entry and strict technological barriers; it’s not something you can just do with money. Why would the twelve giants give you such face?”
“Based on Zhang Zhongmou,” the senior reporter pointed to Zhang Zhongmou on the stage. “He has been in this industry for 23 years, his team is all over the world, and he has participated in the formulation of industry standards. His reputation is his greatest asset.”
Add Lin Haoran's money to the equation, and what can't these two do together?
The surrounding reporters nodded in agreement, finding the analysis quite reasonable.
The heads of those small and medium-sized enterprises were even more excited at this moment.
They originally thought that being able to invite twelve industry leaders to the press conference was already a huge honor.
They originally thought that Zhang Zhongmou and Lin Haoran would at most reach some verbal agreements with these giants.
To their utter surprise, Oracle Semiconductor had already reached a preliminary cooperation agreement with twelve industry giants!
what does this mean?
This means that, starting today, the global semiconductor industry landscape will undergo a profound transformation.
A leader from Europe murmured, "The wafer foundry model isn't something that no one has tried before, but no one has ever truly succeeded in making it work."
But now, with the support of the twelve giants, Lin Haoran's funds, and Zhang Zhongmou's technology, this path might actually be viable.
His companions nodded repeatedly: "If this works, our small companies will be saved. We won't have to sell our possessions to build wafer fabs anymore, and we won't have to worry about production capacity. We can just focus on design and make our own chips."
“But…” another person looked at the giants in the front row with some concern, “Would they really be willing to give orders to Oracle Semiconductor? They have their own wafer fabs, why would they outsource?”
This question was also on the minds of many people present.
But Grove quickly provided the answer with his actions.
The Intel CEO stood up, walked slowly onto the stage, and took the microphone from Lin Haoran.
The room fell silent instantly, and everyone stared at him intently.
Grove began by saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Intel, I am here to formally announce that we will be establishing a long-term strategic partnership with Oracle Semiconductor."
Intel's first trial order will be delivered to Oracle Semiconductor in three months.
The audience erupted in uproar.
First batch of trial orders!
what does this mean?
This means that Intel will not only offer verbal support, but also take concrete actions to support Oracle Semiconductor.
Grove continued, "Some might ask, why does Intel, which has its own foundries, outsource? My answer is: because of focus."
"Intel's core competitiveness lies in chip design, architectural innovation, and process development. However, wafer manufacturing is a capital-intensive industry with huge investment and a long payback period."
If we could have a reliable partner to share this burden, we could dedicate more resources and energy to our core business.
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the entire room.
"I believe that the wafer foundry model will be the future of the semiconductor industry, and Oracle Semiconductor has the potential to become a leader in this field."
Applause erupted like a tidal wave.
After Grove, Galvin also stepped onto the stage.
The Motorola CEO took the microphone and spoke in a loud, clear voice: "Motorola also supports Oracle Semiconductor! Our technical team will also come to Hong Kong to inspect the factory in three months."
Motorola has had a very good working relationship with Mr. Lin Haoran in the field of mobile communications before, so I have great faith in him.
If the requirements are met, the first order will be placed immediately! Mr. Lin, Dr. Zhang, we look forward to seeing your results!
Applause erupted again from the audience.
Immediately afterwards, Koji Kobayashi stood up, and the NEC leader said in English with a heavy Japanese accent: "Japan's semiconductor industry needs such a partner, and NEC is willing to give Oracle Semiconductor a chance."
Next month, our engineering team will arrive in Hong Kong to conduct technical discussions with your company.
Hans Becker of Philips also took the stage, and his speech was very concise: "The European market has always been looking forward to a reliable Asian foundry partner. Philips supports Oracle Semiconductor and hopes that we can create the future together."
Representatives from Toshiba, Hitachi, Fujitsu, and Mitsubishi took to the stage to express their views.
Charlie Spock of National Semiconductor gripped the microphone, his voice brimming with impatience: "Mr. Lin, I have only one request: hurry! Our design team can't wait to turn the blueprints into chips!"
Texas Instruments President Bob Schaffner also stood up and said, "As long as Oracle Semiconductor's manufacturing meets the requirements, Texas Instruments is happy to outsource manufacturing to Oracle Semiconductor!"
For Schaffner, since Texas Instruments has determined that consumer electronics is the core strategy for the future, the semiconductor manufacturing business should naturally be outsourced as much as possible.
He sees handing over the operation of those asset-heavy, high-investment wafer fabs to others, while focusing on the design and market expansion of consumer electronics products, as the optimal solution.
Moreover, if the successor is Zhang Zhongmou, the man who was once marginalized by him but now receives support from the entire industry, then it can be considered a subtle reconciliation.
At least, it's passable on the surface.
Zhang Zhongmou has been with Texas Instruments for over 20 years, and he has many supporters.
Everyone felt that Xia Bai had forced Zhang Zhongmou out of his job. While that was true, Xia Bai knew that if Zhang Zhongmou really made a name for himself in Hong Kong, how would those who had supported him view him?
What do those engineers who left Texas Instruments to follow Zhang Zhongmou think of him?
How will the industry as a whole view him?
Therefore, publicly expressing support is the best option.
It shows magnanimity and silences public opinion.
As for what Zhang Zhongmou was thinking, that's another matter.
At least on the surface, everyone is doing alright.
Xia Bo's statement caused another stir in the audience.
Even Texas Instruments supports it?
Texas Instruments, the company that drove Zhang Zhongmou away?
The Texas Instruments company that left Zhang Zhongmou with "nowhere to turn"?
Now they're openly expressing their support?
This scene was truly dramatic.
Reporters frantically pressed their shutters, capturing every expression on Xia Bo's face as he spoke.
The heads of those small and medium-sized enterprises were whispering among themselves, discussing the matter animatedly.
"Even Xia Bo bowed his head..."
"It's not about bowing down, it's about going with the flow. Texas Instruments has shifted its focus to consumer electronics, and semiconductor manufacturing is now a burden for them."
However, Texas Instruments cannot completely abandon the semiconductor field, so for Texas Instruments, cutting costs wherever possible is probably what they would prefer.
"No matter what, the fact that Xia Bai publicly expressed his support shows that Lin Haoran and Zhang Zhongmou have a lot of influence."
"Now, the semiconductor industry is really about to welcome another giant!"
On stage, Lin Haoran smiled and nodded to Xia Bai.
Xia Bai nodded slightly in response.
At that moment, the subtle tension between the two was captured forever by the flash of the camera.
Finally, Jerry Sanders walked onto the stage.
The founder of AMD looked at the crowd below the stage with a complex expression on his face, a mixture of wry smile, admiration, and a hint of relief.
“At the banquet last night, I asked Mr. Lin a tricky question: What if the OEM manufacturing fails? What will you do if this path is blocked?”
Some people in the audience laughed.
Sanders continued, "I was impressed by Mr. Lin's answer. He said that if the foundry business failed, he would go all out into the field of chip research and development."
That sentence made us all nervous.
The laughter grew even louder.
Sanders smiled and said, "So, in order to prevent him from entering the chip R&D field and competing with us, we can only fully support him in doing a good job in foundry manufacturing. AMD is willing to cooperate with Oracle Semiconductor!" Applause rang out again and lasted for a long time.
All twelve industry giants took the stage to express their views.
We fully commit to support this.
At this moment, Oracle Semiconductor's position is unshakeable.
The heads of those small and medium-sized enterprises can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Even the industry giants have said so, what else do they have to worry about?
An entrepreneur from Silicon Valley excitedly grabbed the hand of the person next to him and said, "Did you hear that? Even Intel has given them a trial order! Even Texas Instruments and AMD have expressed their support! This path really works!"
Those around him nodded repeatedly, extremely excited.
Over the years, these small and medium-sized enterprises have lived in the shadow of giants.
Without the funds to build a wafer fab, they could only watch their design drawings turn into a pile of waste paper.
They had great ideas and great technology, but because they couldn't mass-produce them, they could only watch the opportunity slip away.
But now, hope has arrived.
A neutral, professional, and reliable wafer foundry is about to be born.
They finally have the opportunity to realize their dreams.
Therefore, the leaders of these companies also hope that Oracle Semiconductor will succeed.
On the stage, Lin Haoran and Zhang Zhongmou stood side by side, waving to the audience.
Flashbulbs went off wild in the press area as they captured this historic moment.
This moment is destined to be recorded in the annals of the semiconductor industry.
……
After the press conference, the guests visited the Kwun Tong Industrial Park.
A dozen luxury buses carrying these top figures in the global semiconductor industry headed towards Kwun Tong.
Zhang Zhongmou personally accompanied them, leading these industry giants through laboratory after laboratory, showing them equipment after equipment, and meeting them one by one.
Those devices are the most advanced in the world: deposition equipment imported from Applied Materials in the United States, lithography machines imported from Canon in Japan, etching machines imported from Philips in the Netherlands, and optical inspection equipment imported from Zeiss in Germany.
Those engineers were Zhang Zhongmou's old subordinates who had followed him for more than ten years.
They came to Hong Kong from Texas Instruments, Intel, Motorola, and all over the world, simply because they believed in Zhang Zhongmou.
Although those production lines are still being debugged, they are already taking shape.
Inside the cleanroom, technicians in white cleanroom suits are busy adjusting the equipment, and the air is filled with a tense yet orderly atmosphere.
Grove walked in the group, nodding as he looked around.
He suddenly recalled the scene ten years ago when he led Intel's transformation into a microprocessor company.
At that time, he also had nothing, started from scratch, and had a group of people following him and believing in him.
He understood Zhang Zhongmou's feelings at that moment.
At the end of the visit, Grove found Lin Haoran.
Grove said to Lin Haoran, "Mr. Lin, I saw it with my own eyes today, and you are serious."
Lin Haoran nodded: "I've always been serious."
Grove extended his hand.
"Pleasant to work with."
Lin Haoran grasped his hand.
"Pleasant to work with."
At this moment, the collaboration between Intel and Oracle Semiconductor officially began.
That evening, Lin Haoran hosted another banquet to bid farewell to all the distinguished guests.
After the banquet, he stood at the hotel entrance, looking out at Victoria Harbour in the distance.
The night breeze carries the salty scent of the sea.
Zhang Zhongmou walked up to him and said with some emotion, "Haoran, we succeeded."
At first, he thought that if he came to Hong Kong, he would be ridiculed and looked down upon, and that more than half of the people he invited might not come.
But it turned out that he was wrong.
And it's wildly wrong.
All twelve industry giants were present and publicly expressed their support at the press conference.
His former colleagues at Texas Instruments, his former competitors at industry conferences, and his newcomers—all stood here, expressing their trust in him with applause and promises.
Zhang Zhongmou suddenly felt a little dazed.
Three months ago, he was in his Dallas office, watching the sunset outside the window, contemplating the end of his 23-year career.
At that time, he thought he would retire quietly at Texas Instruments like countless other veteran engineers, and then be occasionally invited to attend industry conferences, sitting in a corner listening to young people talk about the future.
At that time, he thought that this was how his life would be.
But Lin Haoran appeared.
This young man personally traveled to Dallas, and a conversation that lasted several hours rekindled his fighting spirit.
This young man's statement, "There's no limit to the amount of funding," gave him the confidence to take a gamble.
This young man used his influence and connections to bring together twelve industry giants in Hong Kong, allowing Oracle Semiconductor to stand on the shoulders of giants from the very first day of its birth.
"Haoran," Zhang Zhongmou turned to look at the young man beside him, "thank you."
Lin Haoran smiled.
"Chairman Zhang, you've said this many times already."
Zhang Zhongmou also smiled.
"Then say it again."
The two stood side by side, gazing at the night view of Victoria Harbour.
In the distance, the brightly lit skyscrapers of Central are reflected on the sea, creating a shimmering effect.
Nearby, the Peninsula Hotel's neon sign shimmered with a soft light, and occasionally a car drove by, taking away groups of guests.
Tomorrow, these guests will fly back to their homes around the world.
But the support and commitment they brought will remain in Hong Kong, in Kwun Tong, and in every laboratory and production line at Oracle Semiconductor.
“Chairman Zhang,” Lin Haoran suddenly spoke up, “do you know what I admire most about you?”
Zhang Zhongmou looked at him: "What?"
Lin Haoran thought for a moment and said, "It's what you said at the press conference: 'At least, I tried.'"
He looked at the night sky in the distance, his tone becoming somewhat wistful.
"In my life, I have met many people—rich, powerful, talented, and ambitious—but those I truly admire are those who dare to try."
Many people, despite having opportunities, dare not try. They fear failure, being laughed at, and losing everything they have. Therefore, they would rather remain stagnant than take that first step.
He turned his head and looked at Zhang Zhongmou.
“But you are different. You are fifty-one years old. You gave up the position of vice president, gave up everything you had accumulated over twenty-three years, and came to a strange city to start from scratch. Not everyone has this kind of courage.”
Zhang Zhongmou remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he laughed.
"Haoran, you're wrong."
Lin Haoran was taken aback.
Looking at the night sky in the distance, Zhang Zhongmou slowly said, "It's not that I have courage, it's that I have no choice."
"During my last five years at Texas Instruments, I asked myself every day: What am I doing here? Watching the team I built from scratch disband? Watching the R&D projects I poured my heart and soul into being canceled? Watching the technological path I believed in being rejected?"
He shook his head.
"That feeling is worse than failure."
"So when you said 'there is no limit to funding,' I didn't hesitate, because I knew this was my last chance."
He turned his head and looked at Lin Haoran.
"So, it wasn't me who chose to come to Hong Kong, it was you who gave me the opportunity to choose."
Lin Haoran looked at him and remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he laughed.
"Chairman Zhang, then we've mutually benefited each other."
Zhang Zhongmou also smiled.
"Yes, we complement each other." (End of Chapter)