New Employees With an Annual Salary of 1 Trillion Won - Chapter 193

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 193. Project Launch (3)

The Deputy Branch Manager personally stepped forward to make the collaboration with Samjin and GL LCD happen.

He had prepared massive investment funds and quite attractive conditions, heading confidently to the negotiation room.

But when he returned to the office, he looked completely exhausted, like someone whose energy had been completely drained.

“Branch Manager… Both Samjin and GL LCD have conveyed their position that collaboration contracts are impossible.”

“Why? Did they demand different conditions? If they want, we can meet any conditions.”

“Well… they had no intention of collaborating at all. Both companies seemed to have absolutely no intention of sharing LCD technology with outsiders.”

Were they concerned about technology leaks?

But excluding semiconductors, we were essentially just a simple contract manufacturing company.

Since we weren’t direct competitors either, I hadn’t expected them to refuse collaboration at all.

“Did you sufficiently convey that there were no concerns about technology leaks?”

“I emphasized it several times, but… they had no intention of listening. They just kept repeating that they could develop LCD technology themselves and that they could secure the investment funds we offered on their own.”

“Did they show that reaction even when you proposed joint research on capacitive panels instead of resistive panels?”

The Deputy Branch Manager quietly nodded his head.

And after letting out a small sigh, he conveyed exactly what he had heard in the meeting room.

“They said that since capacitive panels are difficult to commercialize, they have no concrete development plans right now.”

“So essentially they won’t invest in businesses that won’t make money.”

“That’s how I understood it too. They said they do research capacitive panels, but it’s just a small project led by their research labs.”

The LCD market was truly a battlefield.

Including Samjin and GL, large corporations from the United States and Japan were fiercely competing for market share.

That’s why these companies refused collaboration.

They all made independent development their principle and were extremely wary of technology leaks.

They even seemed to regard joint research with outsiders as a matter of swallowing their pride.

“It seems they judge there’s absolutely no reason to partner with us.”

“Especially, they seemed unwilling to spend manpower and time on capacitive panel development.”

“Sigh… Being obsessed only with immediate profits, they’re turning away from the value of future technology.”

“They seemed to judge that even if capacitive panels were commercialized, their applications would be limited. According to the officials, capacitive panels are expensive, have low yields, and are products with poor profitability.”

There wasn’t a single large corporation that properly understood the value of capacitive panels.

Since there weren’t many devices using touch pads yet, it was a natural reaction in some ways.

“I suppose they don’t think that few places use touch pads because resistive panels have poor performance.”

“Rather, they showed the reaction that customers prefer physical controls like wheels or buttons over touch methods.”

There was no need to force collaboration with parties we couldn’t communicate with.

While it was true that Korean large corporations possessed excellent LCD technology.

Capacitive panel research itself was perfectly possible without them.

“We’ll have to take the alternative approach.”

“Do you happen to have another method prepared?”

“If you don’t have teeth, you chew with your gums. We can proceed with research with mid-sized companies or strong small companies that produce LCDs.”

“But wouldn’t the technology gap between large corporations and mid-sized companies be too large?”

The technology level between large corporations and mid-sized companies could differ by at least one or two generations, or even several generations.

But what I wanted wasn’t LCD technology, but capacitive panels.

And since even the large corporations weren’t seriously researching capacitive panels, there was almost no technology gap in that field.

Of course, there were clear differences in infrastructure, equipment, and research environment.

But I had already prepared measures to bridge those differences.

“If we collaborate with just one mid-sized company, naturally there would be a big gap with large corporations. But if we proceed with multiple companies instead of just one, we might not just reduce the gap but actually surpass them.”

“Multiple companies together… Are you planning to create a consortium?”

“That’s right. We’ll form a consortium by gathering mid-sized companies and strong small companies. Actually, smaller companies have the advantage of faster decision-making and moving more agilely than large corporations.”

Smaller organizations had the advantage of faster action.

Of course, there were many risk factors too.

Some companies had unstable financial situations where even one mistake could make recovery impossible.

But Tiger Fund could offset all those disadvantages.

“Start preparing the consortium. And send official letters about consortium participation to domestic LCD-related companies.”

“Many mid-sized companies and strong small companies don’t have abundant financial situations, so they’ll show interest in the official letter itself, but… would they actually participate?”

“We just need to present conditions attractive enough that they have no choice but to participate.”

The Deputy Branch Manager nodded with a determined expression.

Perhaps because he had been rejected by the large corporations, there was even a hint of fighting spirit in his eyes.

***

Capacitive panel consortium briefing session.

Most domestic LCD-related mid-sized and strong small companies expressed their intention to participate.

Representatives and executives from over twenty companies gathered at the briefing venue.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Jung-hoo, Branch Manager of Tiger Fund Korea Branch.”

I personally went up to the podium and started the briefing session.

Since anyone running a business knew about Tiger Fund, enthusiastic reactions erupted throughout the meeting hall.

“Today’s gathering was arranged for capacitive panel development. It’s also a gathering for us to join forces and be the first to commercialize technology that even large corporations like Samjin and GL LCD haven’t seriously entered yet.”

This time there was no particular reaction.

Since the representatives of mid-sized companies, like the large corporations, weren’t showing much interest in capacitive panels, this reaction came out.

From now on, there was only one thing I had to do.

Instill in them the desire for capacitive panel development.

And for this, I had to present a sufficiently attractive proposal.

“Tiger Fund plans to bear all costs necessary for capacitive panel development. Facilities, equipment, and even personnel costs. Tiger Fund will provide full support for all costs involved in development.”

Only then did the expressions of the company representatives begin to change little by little.

There was no reason to refuse when being told to do research while receiving money.

Especially if they could secure expensive facilities and equipment as is.

They could also use them for technology research other than capacitive panels, so they had no choice but to show interest.

“And if we succeed in developing capacitive panels, we’ll sign long-term supply contracts under Tiger Fund’s name. Companies participating in the consortium will secure stable suppliers for the next 10 years, or even longer.”

Securing stable revenue.

It was the condition mid-sized companies craved most.

They could obtain such conditions simply by participating in the consortium.

The conditions were so good that the company representatives naturally leaned forward.

“Of course, Tiger Fund will hold all technology ownership rights. But participating companies will be officially registered as next-generation technology developers, and Tiger Fund will establish long-term cooperative relationships with registered companies. Beyond simple panel supply contracts, we’ll also provide financial partnerships.”

It meant they wouldn’t need to worry about money problems in the future.

The moment they became our partners, they wouldn’t need to go to banks begging for loans.

Direct financial support would be possible from Hana Bank under Tiger Fund, or from Tiger Fund itself.

“Let me summarize finally. Tiger Fund will bear all R&D costs necessary for capacitive panel development. You can secure the latest facilities and equipment without spending a single penny, and even gain stable suppliers and financial partners.”

When the presentation ended, the meeting hall buzzed for a moment.

The company representatives cautiously assessed the situation by watching each other or looking around.

I gave them time to organize their thoughts, and only after an appropriate pause did I continue with the next part.

“Now we’ll have a Q&A session. Please feel free to ask any questions.”

“Can we develop technology that even large corporations haven’t succeeded in just because we’ve gathered together? Among the companies attending here, there’s virtually not a single place that can make touch-type LCD panels on its own.”

The person who asked the question had an atmosphere more like a university professor than a company representative.

As he said, among the companies gathered here, there wasn’t a single place that could completely manufacture LCD panels on its own.

“That’s exactly why we need a consortium. There are companies specializing in panel manufacturing, and companies focusing on polarizing plates. There are also companies handling glass substrates, packaging, and thin film processes. If these companies join forces as one, capacitive touch panel development is definitely possible!”

“Developing the parts each is responsible for might be possible, but… can we integrate them into one and make completed panels?”

Most mid-sized companies were simple parts suppliers.

Having no experience making finished products directly, they inevitably lacked confidence.

“Large corporations are already making LCDs by assembling parts you supply anyway. We too can definitely make finished products just by gathering together.”

“The assembly process is never simple. There can’t be even an inch of error, and if even one process goes wrong, defects immediately occur.”

One of the representatives raised precision as an issue.

But when it came to precision work, there weren’t many companies as serious as us.

Of course, problems might arise when moving to the mass production stage, but there would be absolutely no problems at the technology development stage.

“Under Tiger Fund, there are Daehyeon Semiconductor and Nexcon, which produces iPods. We’ll take responsibility for precision issues.”

“First, we need to develop the technology before we can even discuss precision, don’t we? So… exactly how much are you planning to invest?”

The stubborn-looking representative raised his voice.

It was such a blatant question that the other representatives around looked momentarily awkward, but for me, it was actually the question I had been waiting for.

“We plan to invest 20 billion won for initial infrastructure construction, and an additional 30 billion won for technology development. The development period is set for 3 years, and we’re prepared to provide even more funding depending on progress.”

“You’re investing as much as 50 billion won? Even Large Corporations don’t spend that much on capacitive panel development.”

The total R&D costs would probably be higher for what Samjin or GL LCD uses.

However, it was rare to spend as much as 50 billion won on developing a single technology like capacitive panels, which is why the corporate representatives couldn’t keep their mouths shut.

“Large Corporations and Tiger Fund have completely different profit structures. That’s what makes this investment possible.”

“How are they different?”

“Large Corporations prioritize short-term profits and stable sales. On the other hand, we invest based on the value of future technology. Even if it doesn’t generate money right now, if it’s technology that will change the market in the future, we can invest any amount appropriate for it.”

It was literally the concept of ‘investment.’

Of course, not all funds operate this way.

This type of investment was a strategy only the Korea Branch could choose, and this investment was possible because I needed this technology.

“I’ll join the consortium. Investing in the future… there’s no reason to pass that up.”

“We’ll participate too! But… is financial support really possible?”

“When will facility and equipment support start? And could we possibly get space provided too? We’re short on research labs to house new equipment.”

The corporate representatives all raised their voices simultaneously.

They seemed to have gotten excited by the amount of 50 billion won.

Worried they might not be able to participate in the consortium, they even raised their hands high and competed to speak.

“Everyone can participate. Facilities, equipment, and even research space – we can support everything. You can receive supplies as early as this month. Also, financial support is of course possible. We’ll provide long-term loans at lower interest rates than Banks.”

As I answered each question carefully.

Only then did the corporate representatives seem relieved and sit back down.

“From now on, you can proceed with contracts with our Working Staff. Of course, you don’t have to draft contracts today. You can receive sufficient consultation from lawyers and proceed with contracts later without any disadvantages. Please review the contracts carefully, and then give us your response.”

I had no intention of forcing anyone.

Dragging along unwilling companies would only reduce efficiency.

That’s why I said they didn’t need to sign contracts today.

However, since I didn’t want things to flow too loosely either, I added one final comment.

“Today, you just need to express your intention to participate. Well then, this concludes the consortium briefing.”

I bowed in greeting and stepped down from the platform.

Meanwhile, the waiting Fund Employees approached the corporate representatives and continued with additional explanations along with the contracts.

Most of the representatives listening to the explanations had bright expressions.

Just looking at those faces, I was confident that this consortium would proceed very successfully.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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