Genius of the Rules-Style System

Chapter 668: Chapter 375: The Discordant Nobel Prize Winners

The internal meeting at the Biomedical Research Institute came to an end, and every researcher and associate researcher involved was eager to see the project move forward and produce fruitful results. Each person pondered over related issues, as if infused with endless energy.

Take Dai Tianqing, for example.

As soon as he stepped out of the conference hall and spoke to Zhao Yi, he pulled Chen Zhigang from his group and went to the office for discussion.

Han Hui also called Ai Lixin to join him, but Ai Lixin seemed reluctant and looked at Li Ming with resentful eyes, as if blaming him for stealing his place.

Li Ming then looked at Zhao Yi and Zhang Wei.

Zhao Yi said, "Brother Li, Sister Zhang Wei, you two can discuss. I have less experience, so for the planning and decision-making of the experiments, you can talk it over."

"I have a class this afternoon, and I also need to prepare for a report in a few days."

"Yeah, keep it up!" Zhang Wei said with a smile on her face, already used to Zhao Yi’s approach.

Li Ming was somewhat puzzled. He was the oldest and most experienced in the group, but Zhao Yi, who was still young, had already done several projects, including a major HIV-AIDS project and discovered the effects of the 2CV-Bing Hydrogen Molecule. Why wasn’t he sad about the drug development part?

He took Zhao Yi and Zhang Wei to the adjacent office and quietly reminded them, "Zhao Yi, Brother Li still has to tell you, about that meeting just now, did you know? There’s something that’s taken for granted, the chief didn’t mention it, and we all didn’t ask about it."

"What’s the matter?" asked Zhao Yi.

Zhang Wei whispered, "Do you mean the drug patent?"

"Right!"

Li Ming nodded vigorously while pursing his lips, "You see Old Dai and the other group members, including Han’s wife, are all very active, their eyes are almost filled with money, you know?"

"In our institute’s work contract, there is a clear rule that national projects do not have patents, but the patents from collaboration with outside companies are jointly owned by the institute and the laboratory, with the institute accounting for 70% to 90%."

"From 70% to 90%, in reality, it’s 70%, everyone knows it without saying it. We’re a research institute, not a company, we don’t need to make a profit, right?"

"It doesn’t matter if the institute takes 70% or 90%, anyway, the money ultimately goes to the finance department, so there will only be more spare funds for the institute, so 70% is for sure."

"The laboratory accounts for 30%."

Li Ming said, "I’ve done a collaborative biochemical project, got a patent for a solution formula, and it was divided into 30%, with the lab keeping 10%, and the rest of the 20% was divided among the rest of us. I got 80% of it." He patted his chest to show that he was generous, "I’ll make sure not to shortchange my own people."

Zhang Wei immediately held Li Ming in higher esteem and asked, "How much was the patent fee for that year?"

"Last year it was...uh...more than 600." Li Ming mentioned a number somewhat awkwardly, then immediately shook his head, "It’s not about the money in the end, even one cent more is still more money earned, right?"

"Yeah, yeah."

Zhao Yi expressed his trust with his eyes.

Li Ming continued to address Zhao Yi, "This time the collaboration is extraordinary, it’s an AIDS drug, which is still not available in our country, and you’re more familiar with the molecular effects. The patents involved are going to be worth a lot."

"I can’t say exactly how much, but we must strive for it! If we can really succeed, there will be an internal allocation, and in the end, it’s up to Director Yan to make the decision, but the higher the research contribution, the greater the proportion allocated..."

"Now that we’ve been divided into three teams, it’s a competition! Our team needs to work hard and produce results first. As long as there’s hope, everyone will follow our team’s chosen direction for research and development, and we’ll have a say, right?" Li Ming said, looking at Zhang Wei as well.

Zhang Wei asked, "Are there any differences among the team members?" She was referring to the three of them.

Li Ming laughed, "Of course we have to look at Zhao Yi! My personality is straightforward, as you know, and there’s no way I could handle this drug development project on my own. So, it all depends on Zhao Yi." He looked somewhat embarrassedly at Zhang Wei, "Of course, Zhang Wei, you’re also very important."

Zhang Wei shook her head and laughed.

Zhao Yi said, "I get it, Brother Li. So, when the project is done, we’ll get patent fees, right? And it’s not a small amount."

"Yes, that’s about it."

"Hmm."

Zhao Yi nodded again and said, "Then we’ll strive for it." He glanced at the time and said, "Research is not a one or two-day task, so I’m going to have lunch now and then go to class. You and Zhang Wei can research together. If you have any plans or ideas, just go ahead with them, and I’ll keep an eye on the progress."

"Alright then, let’s all work hard!" With that, he walked out of the office.

Li Ming was perplexed and uncertain, so he asked Zhang Wei, "Was he being sarcastic just now?" freewёbnoνel.com

Zhang Wei, long accustomed to it, explained, "Professor Li, Zhao Yi has always been this way, don’t take it to heart. We’ve always done our projects like this. He only does occasional experiments and rarely participates in experimental design. However, I think his greatest strength lies in the analysis of experimental data and results."

She thought for a moment and used two words, "Sensitive and accurate."

"We’re responsible for designing the experiments, and he’s responsible for studying the data and results. Besides, sometimes, his intuition is really sensitive."