Why is Huawei confused? Ren Zhengfei said there is no one to lead the way

At the National Science and Technology Innovation Conference held recently, Huawei President Ren Zhengfei made a report. He said that Huawei now feels that the future is bleak and it can't find the direction. Huawei's "opportunistic" high speed of following others will gradually slow down, and the responsibility of establishing a guiding theory has arrived.

Talking about the future: Uncertain　　

From a technological perspective, human society will evolve into an intelligent society in the next two or three decades, the depth and breadth of which we cannot yet imagine. The more uncertain the future is, the more we need to create, which also provides a golden opportunity for millions of companies. If you cannot persist in innovation, you will be overthrown sooner or later.　　

In today's era, technological progress is too fast and there is more and more uncertainty. We will also shift our focus from being immersed in the deterministic work of product development to increasing investment in uncertainty research to keep up with the pace of the times.　　

If a company wants to have ideals, it must have the spirit to abandon profit calculations in a local area. Major innovations are difficult to plan. Sticking to the old ways is the easiest option, but it will also lose big opportunities.　　

Talking about R&D: Funding will be increased to 20 billion US dollars　　

Huawei has more than 80,000 R&D personnel. About 20-30% of the annual R&D funds are used for research and innovation, and 70% for product development. We have long allocated more than 10% of our sales revenue to R&D funds.　　

Huawei invested $9.2 billion in R&D in 2015, accounting for 15% of its sales, to develop new technologies and products. In the next few years, annual R&D spending will gradually increase to $10-20 billion.　　

Huawei has gradually established capability centers in areas with concentrated strategic resources over the years. Huawei now has 26 capability centers around the world, and the number is increasing year by year.　　

Talking about status: Huawei now has no one to lead　　

Huawei's current level is still at the innovation level of engineering sciences such as engineering mathematics and physical algorithms, and has not yet truly entered into basic theoretical research.　　

As the limits of Shannon's theorem and Moore's law are gradually approached, and the theory of large traffic and low latency has not yet been created, Huawei has felt that the future is bleak and it can't find the direction. Huawei has been moving forward in a lost way.　　

Major innovation is the law of survival in the no-man's land. Without theoretical breakthroughs, technological breakthroughs, and a large amount of technological accumulation, it is impossible to produce explosive innovation. Huawei is gradually entering the no-man's land in the industry, and is in a dilemma where no one is leading, no established rules, and no one is following. Huawei's "opportunistic" high speed of following others will gradually slow down, and the responsibility of creating guiding theories has arrived.　　

Talking about talents: The post-80s and post-90s are a promising generation　　

Huawei used to have a closed talent pyramid structure, but we have blown open the top of the pyramid and are now open to absorbing the energy of the "universe." We are strengthening dialogue and cooperation with scientists around the world, supporting the research of scientists in the same direction, and actively participating in various international industry and standards organizations.　　

We not only rely on internal growth, but also attract more external investment. Our Russian mathematicians are more willing to work on longer-term and more challenging projects, and combined with our diligent Chinese, the meticulousness of Japanese scientists, the romance of French mathematicians, the selfless work of Italian scientists, and the ability of British and Belgian scientists to lead the world... will enable us to confidently exceed $150 billion in sales revenue in 2020.　　

The backbone of Huawei now working on the front line are all those born in the 1980s and 1990s, especially in Africa, the Middle East epidemic, war-torn areas, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria... Those born in the 1980s and 1990s are a promising generation. We have recently recruited outstanding Chinese students (finance) in the United States, and all of them are required to go to Africa and to difficult areas. Huawei's slogan is "Learn to manage the world first, then learn to manage a company."　　

The following is the full text of Ren Zhengfei's speech:　　

"Using innovation as the core competitiveness to strive for the centenary scientific and technological revitalization of the motherland"　　

From a technological perspective, human society will evolve into an intelligent society in the next two or three decades, the depth and breadth of which we cannot yet imagine. The more uncertain the future is, the more we need to create, which also provides a golden opportunity for millions of companies. How can our company strive to move forward? Facing many difficulties, opportunities and dangers, if we do not move forward, we will fall behind. If we cannot shoulder the great social responsibility and insist on innovation, we will be overthrown sooner or later.　　

1. In an era of great opportunities, we must have strategic patience　　

The development of human society is all on the road of basic scientific progress. And the development of basic science requires endurance of loneliness. Some people are lonely for their whole life, not just sitting on the bench for ten years. Huawei has more than 80,000 R&D personnel. About 20-30% of the annual R&D funds are used for research and innovation, and 70% for product development. We have long spent more than 10% of our sales revenue on R&D funds. In the next few years, the annual R&D funds will gradually increase to 10-20 billion US dollars.　　

Huawei has gradually established capability centers in areas with concentrated strategic resources over the years. Huawei now has 26 capability centers around the world, with the number increasing year by year. These centers have attracted a group of world-class scientists who guide the company throughout the entire process. These capability centers themselves are also constantly developing.　　

Huawei is still at the innovation level of engineering sciences such as engineering mathematics and physical algorithms, and has not yet entered into basic theoretical research. As the limits of Shannon's theorem and Moore's law are gradually approaching, and the theory of large traffic and low latency has not yet been created, Huawei has felt that the future is bleak and it can't find the direction. Huawei is already moving forward in a maze. Major innovation is the law of survival in no man's land. Without theoretical breakthroughs, technological breakthroughs, and a large amount of technological accumulation, it is impossible to produce explosive innovation.　　

Huawei is gradually entering the no-man's land in the industry, where there is no one to lead, no established rules, and no one to follow. Huawei's "opportunistic" high speed of following others will gradually slow down, and the responsibility of establishing a guiding theory has arrived.　　

Huawei used to have a closed talent pyramid structure, but we have blown open the top of the pyramid and are now absorbing the energy of the "universe". We have strengthened dialogue and cooperation with scientists around the world, supported the research of scientists in the same direction, actively participated in various international industry and standards organizations, various academic discussions, and had more coffee with talented people to sense the direction of development from the sparks of thought. Only with the accumulation and release of huge potential energy can we achieve great success.　　

Internal research and verification of uncertainty are implementing multi-path, multi-tiered attacks, intensive bombs, and saturation attacks. The Blue Army must also be materialized. Moreover, we should not judge heroes by success or failure. We should extract the factors of success from failure, summarize, affirm, praise, and keep the exploration going. There is no such term as "failure" in the exploration of the future. Imperfect heroes are also heroes. We should encourage people to continue to devote themselves to science and exploration, so that the talents and experiences of "failures" will continue to remain in our team, and we will become more mature.　　

We need to understand the crooked melons and cracked dates, and allow black swans to fly in our coffee cups. Innovation can succeed or fail. We also need to be brave enough to embrace disruption. If you break an egg from the outside in, it will be an omelette; if you break it from the inside out, a peacock will fly out. In today's era, technology is advancing too fast, and there are more and more uncertainties. We will also shift from being immersed in the deterministic work of product development to increasing investment in uncertainty research to keep up with the times.　　

We encourage scientists from our dozens of capability centers, tens of thousands of experts and engineers to strengthen communication, exchange ideas, absorb the sparks and energy of others over a cup of coffee, and turn strategic technology seminars into a "Roman Forum", an open platform for scientific and technological discussions, so that the sparks of ideas can be turned into a raging fire.　　

If a company wants to have ideals, it must have the spirit to abandon profit calculations in a local area. Major innovations are difficult to plan. Sticking to the old ways is the easiest option, but it will also lose big opportunities.　　

We not only rely on internal growth, but also attract more external investment. Our Russian mathematicians are more willing to work on longer-term and more challenging projects, and combined with our diligent Chinese, the meticulousness of Japanese scientists, the romance of French mathematicians, the selfless work of Italian scientists, and the ability of British and Belgian scientists to lead the world... will enable us to confidently exceed $150 billion in sales revenue in 2020.　　

2. Use the best people to train better people　　

The kind of values ​​we use will shape the kind of young people we will meet. A reed growing among hemp will grow straight without support. It is the responsibility and obligation of the young people to struggle and create value. We are in the Internet age, and young people are more open, active, and free in their thinking. We need to guide and educate them, but we also need to allow some people to happily live an ordinary life.　　

The backbone of Huawei now working on the front line are all those born in the 1980s and 1990s, especially in Africa, the Middle East epidemic, war-torn areas, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria... Those born in the 1980s and 1990s are a promising generation. We have recently recruited outstanding Chinese students (finance) in the United States, and all of them are required to go to Africa and to difficult areas. Huawei's slogan is "Learn to manage the world first, then learn to manage a company."　　

The foundation of our country's century-long rejuvenation of the Chinese dream lies in education, and the foundation of education lies in teachers. Education should be aimed at the future. The future society is an intelligent society, not a society centered on general labor, and it cannot be controlled without culture. If capital hires "intelligent robots" on a large scale during this period, polarization will be more serious. At this time, it is possible that Western manufacturing will return to low costs, and the industry will be transferred back to the West. We will be hollowed out. Even if we realize the intelligence of production and service processes, we still need senior technicians, experts, modern farmers... Therefore, if we want to seize this opportunity, we must train people on a large scale.　　

Today's children will be the doctors, masters, experts, technicians, skilled workers, modern farmers, etc. who will represent society and contribute to humanity in 20 or 30 years. Therefore, the only way to develop science and technology is education, and only education. We should pay more attention to rural teachers and children. Let teaching become the most glorious profession and the aspiration of outstanding young people, and use the best people to train better people.　　

Being able to speak at the conference this time is also an encouragement and spur for Huawei. We will carefully understand the important speeches of General Secretary Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang and the spirit of this conference, further strengthen innovation, enhance core competitiveness, and work tirelessly for the motherland's century-old scientific and technological revitalization.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.