Genius of the Rules-Style System

Chapter 1012: Chapter 505 This is definitely the expression of a black hole!_1

The department responsible for approving projects at the Ministry of Science and Technology is extremely diligent in its work, adhering to a principle that requires strict scrutiny regardless of who or what project is involved.

Every investment made comes from government allocations, and a good number of approved projects, frankly speaking, yield no output. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Lack of output from project development is related to the researchers’ capabilities, the project’s difficulty, and also the project itself, since some studies intrinsically lack significance.

No matter the situation of the project, the project approval department at the Ministry of Science and Technology must tightly safeguard the process, and there are set procedures for reviewing different types of projects.

For example, based on the requested funds.

Generally speaking, research projects applied for by individual researchers do not exceed one million RMB.

If the requested funds reach several million RMB, relevant scientific research institutions must apply. Projects amounting to tens of millions certainly need to undergo rigorous review, involving multiple layers of application and approval, as well as the dispatch of special review teams for investigation.

When the funding for a project surpasses one hundred million, actually, it’s beyond the reach of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Such projects typically fall under national strategic consideration and are approved in meetings by the highest-level leaders; even the highest-ranking Minister at the Ministry of Science and Technology has no authority to directly approve them.

Therefore, Liu Zecheng shook his head helplessly when he learned that Zhao Yi’s initial funding request was as high as two hundred million RMB, and that there would be further investment, bringing the total funding to one billion RMB, because he had no authority to give direct approval.

Actually, similar projects do not follow the regular application process. Instead, they first gather a large group of scholars from relevant fields to collectively assess the project, before applying to higher authorities in the name of a group or scientific research institution.

The higher authorities would dispatch specialized teams for review, and there would be expert groups to consider the project’s issues from all angles.

When Zhao Yi directly applied to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the procedure was somewhat incorrect.

Of course, special circumstances require special measures.

Deciding on the spot, Liu Zecheng resolved to visit Yanhua University, and by ten o’clock in the morning, he was already standing at the entrance of the School of Sciences.

His visit was very discreet, bringing only one assistant and driving himself, with no one else aware of his presence.

Liu Zecheng had visited Yanhua University several times before and knew Zhao Yi’s office in the School of Sciences, but he found no one there when he arrived.

A man in his thirties, named Meng Lei, asked with curiosity, "Excuse me... who are you looking for?"

"Is Zhao Yi here?"

"Academician Zhao?"

Meng Lei swept a surprised glance at Liu Zecheng, somewhat puzzled by the situation, but still said, "He’s not here. Look, there’s no security. If Academician Zhao were here, there would definitely be guards at the door."

"I see."

Liu Zecheng laughed, "Zhao Yi still places great emphasis on security, I see. That’s a good thing."

Meng Lei, sensing the visitor’s importance, suggested, "Why don’t you ask in the large office next door? Professor Zhou Li and Professor Hu Zhibin are there, and they’re very familiar with Academician Zhao."

"Alright, thank you."

Liu Zecheng thanked him politely and proceeded to the large office next door. He heard a voice saying ’Come in,’ pushed the door open normally, and immediately attracted the gaze of numerous people within.

The large office fell silent.

Zhou Li looked at the entrance in utter surprise; it took him a moment to recognize the guest and hurriedly stood to greet him, "Director Liu? What brings you here so suddenly?"

"Director Liu?"

"It really is Deputy Minister Liu from the Ministry of Science and Technology! If you get on good terms with him, you wouldn’t have to worry about your math research project being rejected!"

"Really? I applied for thirty thousand in funding this time!"

The last remark came from Hu Zhibin.

"Only thirty thousand..."

The whispers didn’t escape Liu Zecheng’s hearing. He looked at Hu Zhibin discussing the funds with a sympathetic gaze in his eyes.

Thirty thousand in funding...

Such a small amount could only suffice for buying paper and magazines for mathematicians or maybe support attending one or two academic conferences; beyond that, there would be nothing left.

"Mathematicians really have it tough!"

Liu Zecheng inwardly sighed and quickly got to business, "Professor Zhou, do you know where Zhao Yi might be?"

Zhou Li nodded, "Zhao Yi went back. I heard he was going to check on his new villa, up north of the capital, around the ring road area!"

Liu Zecheng knew that location, where many wealthy businessmen, celebrities, and other affluent people purchased spacious villas to reside.

Zhou Li asked, "May I inquire what your visit to Zhao Yi is about?"

Liu Zecheng considered it and said, "Actually, there’s no harm in telling you. Moreover, I want to ask you all, what has Zhao Yi been researching lately?"

"Antigravity!"

Hu Zhibin interjected first, "The whole school knows about his research on antigravity. No, it’s the whole Weibo... On the internet, anyway, a lot of people know it. He hopes to make people float, but I think he’s dreaming."

Zhou Li nodded, "I heard from Professor Gao Yihua, who’s involved in the superconducting antigravity experiment, that Zhao Yi has made some small progress in the mathematical theory of antigravity."

"Though the breakthrough is small, it’s still quite impressive!" exclaimed Hu Zhibin. "I think that in this field, even a minor advance is extremely astonishing."

"That’s true."

Zhou Li and Hu Zhibin’s back-and-forth left Liu Zecheng a bit dazed, prompting him to ask with a strange expression, "Do you know about ’The Code of the Gods’?"