mesbooks Chapter 240 Magwel, who couldn't sit still
Chapter 240 Magwel, who couldn't sit still
He raised his glass.
There was a little bit of wine left in his glass. He drank it all in one gulp.
After he put down his cup, he revealed the thing he had been unable to get over for 22 years.
At the end of 2000, the couple started their journey in industrial simulation EDA from Leuven. Previously, they had focused on motherboard EDA libraries, having worked with a long-time partner at Kentech for many years. They held a 47% market share in the motherboard EDA library sector.
They could have followed the motherboard EDA library. But that year, they didn't.
他们那一年从铿腾那一个老伙计那里听到一个口信:上型Sentaurus兼容许可持有公司里,Yong-Lab濒临破产。Yong-Lab是IDT-Centaur旗下一家小公司,手里拿了一份1996年、50纳米许可,Yong-Lab从1996年起走到了2000年底,现金流走完。他们与他太太二人决定吃下Yong-Lab。他们吃了Yong-Lab。他们吃完以后,他们手里拿了那份1999年Sentaurus兼容许可。这份许可能读150纳米。
In June 2001, they launched Bel-Sim 1.0. Bel-Sim 1.0 was the first-order industrial simulation prototype in Leuven's hands.
After the prototype was launched.
The customer didn't buy it. The reason isn't complicated. Bel-Sim 1.0 can only read 150nm node libraries; it can't read anything below 150nm. It can't read the next generation; Bel-Sim can't reach the generation before that of Sentaurus from 2002. The customer went elsewhere and got a full-node version of Sentaurus.
After 107 units of Bel-Sim 1.0 were sold, they were refrigerated.
2002年三月。新思推铿腾。铿腾走了一场专利诉讼。那一场诉讼从2002年三月走到2024年12月6号。走2十二年。走2十二年,他们公司被压为空壳。
Magwel has had that license hanging in his name since March 2002. Hanging in.
Hanging out isn't reading. Hanging out isn't taking. Hanging out means you can't convert it into cash.
22 years. They went from being 50 to 62 years old.
This is the 22 year.
Bellata finished speaking.
Maria lowered her head. A little something welled up in her eyes.
Su Chen nodded.
He said, "I understand."
He paused for a moment.
"Now," he said, "under the framework agreement between Vilan and Magwel, Magwel can get $250 million from Vilan by the 15th of this month. Plus one thing. This thing isn't what's behind the thermo-elastic coupling third-order paper MEMS simulation library. This thing is something else."
Bellata looked up.
They both looked at Su Chen at the same time.
Have you heard about the excellent reputation of Vilan products?
Maria raised her head.
"I've heard of it," she said. "'Anything produced by Vilan is guaranteed to be of high quality.' That phrase is famous worldwide."
She paused.
"Your simulation output," she said, "last month, nine verification engineers at IMEC in Leuven said that your output was the most consistent they'd received in fifteen years. They've received Sentaurus, Mentor, Cadence, Comsol, and Coventor in fifteen years. Yours was the most consistent one they'd ever heard of."
Su Chen nodded.
"There's a resident engineer behind Vilan," he said. "Among these resident engineers, Vilan brought one over from AVIC MEMS last year. He's forty-four years old this year, and his name is Suzhao. Behind Suzhao, there's a group of thirty-three people. You Leuven may not recognize their names, but you'll know about their simulation outputs."
He paused.
"Qiming's ability to expand its reach isn't due to its product offerings, but rather its on-site engineers."
Maria nodded.
"This is the thing now," Su Chen said.
He raised one hand.
"First," he said, "the thirty-three engineers from Villon's resident team don't come to our door. Villon doesn't come to Magwel. Villon comes to Leuven."
He raised his second finger.
"Secondly," he said, "after Vivian came to Leuven, the workshop there didn't include Vivian's name. It included your Magwel name. The workshop was named 'Leuven-based Magwel Joint Algorithm Workshop'."
He raised his third finger.
"Third," he said, "the simulation output from that workshop is being released by Magwel under the product name 'Leuven-based Magwel Joint Algorithm Workshop.' Last month, IMEC stated that 'your output is the most consistent one they've received in fifteen years.' Last month, that statement included Wei Lan's name. From this month onwards, it will include Magwel's name."
He lifted his hand.
He said, "Mr. Bellata, this is 'Villan OEM'."
Bellata remained seated.
His wife, Maria, shifted slightly to the side. Her shoulder twitched slightly.
She understood.
Magwel has been distributing products for 25 years since 1999. The industrial simulation output and manufacturing processes Magwel currently offers are handled by the 33-person on-site engineer team at Vilan. However, these 33 on-site engineers don't go to Magwel's location. They go to Leuven. And the workshop name on the back of their Leuven site includes Magwel's name. Their simulation output is distributed under the Magwel name.
Magwel obtained that license in 1999. The product name behind Magwel is what allows it to operate. The simulation output it uses isn't Bel-Sim 1.0. It's not 150 nanometers. It's the technology held by the thirty-three people behind Vilan. But the name behind this technology is Magwel.
She raised her head.
The little thing in her eyes moved slightly.
Su Chen didn't stop.
He raised his other hand.
"The second thing," he said.
Bellata looked at him.
"Project Qiming," Su Chen said. "Starting this June, Project Qiming will move to the first layer of micro-MEMS. Starting next February, it will move to the second layer of five blocks. In the second layer of five blocks, the third block is the optoelectronic interaction interface. The fifth block is the bottom layer of MEMS."
He paused.
"The interface specification behind the third-party and fifth-party blocks," he said. "The Qiming Project Alliance will release it before June next year. We can deliver this interface specification to Magwel ahead of time. Once you get it, your three technical directors will be able to design a European version of the simulation library that supports Qiming's Layer 2 interface. You will be the first supplier outside of Qiming's official interface to release support for Qiming's Layer 2."
He slammed his hand down.
He said, "This is the 'first strike'."
Maria lowered her head.
She understood.
The first two words, "first to emerge," are the key element of the brand. Brand recognition means being recognized as someone who came out first. You are the first to emerge, and the position behind the brand name represents you all. Magwel, from 2007 to 2024, was reduced to an empty shell. Its resurgence isn't based on its Bel-Sim 1.0 second-tier strategy. It's because it was the first brand to emerge and support the Qiming Second-Tier Alliance.
This isn't about how many products are sold. It's about the position behind going global.
Once you secure a position, you can stay for 2 years; the brand behind that position will sustain you for decades.
She raised her head.
The little thing in her eyes moved slightly.
Su Chen didn't stop.
He raised his other hand.
"The third thing," he said.
Bellata was using machinery tonight. He shifted his body slightly.
"Qifeng Academy," Su Chen said.
They both looked up at the same time.
"Qifeng Institute will be at 10:00 AM on July 7th this year," he said. "Five research directions. The fifth direction is 'Formal Verification and Provable Correctness.' This direction is led by Group Leader Dong Chi. Mr. Dong Chi was brought back from MIT CSAIL this May. After 2021, Dong's group will produce some results that can be used in other fields. However, Qifeng Institute does not accept external projects, does not engage in business, and only publishes papers."
He paused.
"Those achievements under Qifeng Institute that can be used elsewhere," he said, "Qifeng Institute doesn't take them. Weilan can take them. The non-core ones. Weilan can license Magwel to use them in Europe under the name of 'Qifeng Institute Route.' Behind your licensing, you can take away the non-core algorithm engine behind Qifeng Institute's formal verification side. With this algorithm engine, you can launch your 'Bel-Sim 2.0.' Bel-Sim 2.0 is not an industrial simulation prototype. It's an industrial simulation EDA tool."
He slammed his hand down.
He said, "This is a 'counter-subsidy from Qifeng Academy'."
Bellata couldn't sit still any longer.
From the moment he stepped into the living room at 6:30 PM tonight, he heard Su Chen speak three times. He assumed that tonight's events meant that he and his wife were accepting the $13 billion plus free access to Europe that they had received at 3 PM that afternoon. But he knew that what he was getting at 6:30 PM tonight wasn't the $13 billion. It must be those three things.
The first item was outsourcing. Magwel used the simulation output from the on-site engineer at Vilan and released it under the Magwel name.
The second point is being the first to market. Magwel obtained the Qiming Layer 2 interface specification, becoming the first supplier outside of Qiming's official product interface to support Qiming Layer 2.
The third thing is the feedback from Qifeng Institute. Magwel took away the non-core algorithm engine behind Qifeng Institute's formal verification side and launched the Bel-Sim 2.0 industrial simulation EDA tool.
None of the three items are worth 13 billion US dollars.
Neither of them were taking it.
They're all using something they won't be able to show off thirty years from now.
Bellata looked up.
He looked at Su Chen.
He paused for twenty-five seconds.
"Mr. Su," he said, "what do you want Magwel to take away from these three things?"
Su Chen looked at him.
He said it softly.
"Mr. Bellata," he said, "that 1999 Sentaurus-compatible license of Magwel. The exclusive worldwide rights have been exclusively granted to Villan. Magwel retains all rights."
He paused.
"The above three items, Wei Lan will pay. Wei Lan will pay 0 US dollars. The 13 billion US dollars in the letter of intent you signed at 3 pm this afternoon, Wei Lan will pay. The above three items are not about taking 13 billion dollars. The above three items are about taking the position behind you for the next 20 years."
He gently put down the cup.
He said, "You should consider it."
Maria's outfit.
Bellata outfit.
The boardroom table behind the couple, which no one could see, was moved from behind at 6:30 pm tonight.
The couple understood.
When they stepped into this three-bedroom apartment at 6:30 PM tonight, it wasn't a negotiation. Tonight, Su Chen was going out to trade goods and services for the next twenty years.
Behind this journey, Qiming, Qifeng, Weilan, and Magwel will be sitting at the same table starting at 6:30 tonight.
"President Su," Maria said.
She raised her glass.
There was a little bit of wine left in her glass. She took a small sip. She didn't finish it.
"Let's talk," she said.