Let's talk about Jack Ma and his Alibaba DAMO Academy today. It may sound like a lofty name, but don't worry, I'll give you a good idea. No, in 2017, Ma Yun promised to throw 100 billion yuan into this research institute.
Come to think of it, that's an astronomical amount! Moreover, they are not only engaged in some scientific research that you and I do not understand, but also donate some real high-tech equipment to universities.
Ma Yun, you must be no stranger, the founder of Alibaba Group, who has done a lot of great things. But perhaps the most eye-catching is a bold plan he proposed in 2017: to invest 100 billion yuan to establish the Damo Academy, specializing in cutting-edge scientific and technological research.
This number, even today, sounds shocking enough. So, what kind of institution is the Damo Academy? It is more like a high-tech laboratory than the average corporate R&D department, covering fields ranging from artificial intelligence to quantum computing to autonomous driving and chip technology.
Jack Ma's goal is clear, that is, to build the Damo Academy into a world-class scientific research institution. The time has come to 2020, and the Damo Academy has been established for three years. In the past three years, the scientists of the Damo Academy have not been idle, they have published thousands of top international academic papers, and have made breakthroughs in many high-tech fields.
For example, in the field of quantum computing, they have developed high-precision multi-bit superconducting quantum chips, as well as a classical simulator of quantum circuits called "Taizhang", which are all world-leading technologies.
However, Jack Ma and his Damo Academy are not content to just mess around in the field of scientific research. They also have a "selfless" heart. The Damo Academy donated part of its quantum laboratory and some state-of-the-art quantum experimental equipment to Zhejiang University, which caused quite a stir at the time.
Moreover, they have opened up these resources to other universities and research institutes on more than one occasion. You may ask, what is the use of these tall equipment and laboratories for ordinary people?
In fact, these donations are not only a simple transfer of materials, but also a kind of sharing of knowledge and technology. In this way, more researchers and students have access to cutting-edge scientific instruments, which is beneficial to the advancement of science and technology throughout the country and even the world.
Moreover, this kind of donation can also stimulate more young people's interest in science. Think about it, if you're a tech enthusiast and suddenly have access to state-of-the-art quantum computing equipment, how excited it would be?
This effect, although not immediate, is definitely more beneficial than disadvantageous in the long run. Speaking of which, you may have felt that what the DAMO Academy has done in recent years is not only to conduct research within its own walls, but also to gradually promote these research results and high-tech benefits to the wider society and the public. This spirit of openness and sharing is also an important symbol of the progress of modern scientific research institutions.