She has a sense of youth that belies her age; her gentle appearance exudes an inner aura; her kind words vaguely reveal her inner frankness and determination. When meeting Zhang Ye for the first time, it is difficult to associate him with a self-employed scientific research entrepreneur, and this inherent "sense of contrast" is his own unique charm.
Whether he is doing scientific research or starting his own company, Zhang Ye has always hoped that his scientific research results can realize value, truly serve the country and benefit society. From a female student who was new to scientific research, to a responsible team leader, a member of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, until she became the chairman and general manager of Changchun Changguang Xinyi Technology Co., Ltd., Zhang Ye broke through prejudices step by step and led The team has embarked on its own path of independent innovation.
“You must have high aspirations but also be down-to-earth. If you have high aspirations, you will not get lost. Only by being down-to-earth can you lead the company to survive.” Zhang Ye has always maintained his original sincerity and forged ahead on the road of scientific research and industrialization.
Aim high and start the path of scientific research
Zhang Ye has been looking for a good scientific research platform to study and further his studies. He is famous for the tradition of down-to-earth scientific research at the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. , Zhang Ye came to this platform to study for a master's degree and a Ph.D. It was at this stage that she officially became involved in the research of image processing. "At that time, when I was choosing my major, I was very interested in image processing. I felt that it was very interesting to teach computers how people understand images." Zhang Ye said.
A mentor on the road to scientific research is like your own guiding light. Because his graduate tutor has always been low-key, rigorous and down-to-earth in scientific research, Zhang Ye has always maintained a low-key and down-to-earth style on the road of scientific research, step by step, and constantly pioneering and moving forward. Since her second year as a graduate student, she has begun to play an important role in scientific research projects. With her bright mind and strong sense of innovation, she can often help the team overcome some difficult project problems. She even applied for a PhD right after graduating. National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Fund. Zhang Ye has demonstrated outstanding scientific research capabilities in both theoretical research and hands-on practical ability to solve engineering project problems. As a very rare female scientific researcher in engineering research institutes, Zhang Ye has gained a good reputation.
In 2012, the Changchun Institute of Optics and Mechanics established the Key Laboratory of Aeronautical Optical Imaging and Measurement of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Zhang Ye served as the leader of the imaging group on the recommendation of her mentor. Since then, she has begun to take charge of her own role and lead The team works on the project. At this stage, Zhang Ye not only undertakes related project research himself, but also provides relevant ideological and technical guidance for the team's research work. Through continuous experience, he has improved both his scientific research skills and team management abilities. exercise.
Transformation from scientific research to industrialization
Zhang Ye has always treated every project and work with a very "fighting" attitude. For her, scientific research is both an interest and a responsibility.
In 2009, due to the need to compete on a certain project, Zhang Ye returned to work just two months after production, working with the team in the weather of more than minus 30 degrees Celsius at the project site. Personnel conduct field experiments and work until early morning every day. When his daughter was 18 months old and had an operation, Zhang Ye only stayed with her for one day on the day of the operation, and then hurried to the field in Xinjiang to "protect" the smooth implementation of the project. He worked until midnight every day, and finally passed the exam at midnight. After months of hard work, the project was successfully delivered. "Due to the special nature of the project work at that time, I really relied on my own patriotism to support it. Because my child had just undergone surgery and was still waiting for me at home, I had to devote my maximum energy to the project every day to ensure that it was flawless. Only then can I go home and see my daughter earlier."
Spring sowing and autumn harvest, the rice warehouse is full. She has been engaged in scientific research for many years and has chaired or participated in a number of national, provincial and ministerial fund or engineering projects. With continuous research and development, Zhang Ye has achieved a series of achievements in computer vision and artificial intelligence related to ground, aviation, and aerospace.
People are always moving forward, seeking more breakthroughs. The year 2018 was an important turning point in Zhang Ye’s scientific research life.
Because she has been engaged in scientific research projects at the institute before, she has accumulated a lot of engineering technology experience in image processing and computer vision. Zhang Ye is also thinking about what her mission is. With the rise of the "mass entrepreneurship and innovation" craze, scientific researchers have become the most valuable strategic resource for innovation, entrepreneurship and creation in our country. Against this background, Zhang Ye hopes to do some more down-to-earth and socially valuable work, hoping to influence more people. "As we grow older, our pursuit of the meaning of life becomes more intense. I have been thinking about what I want to do in this life. In my opinion, starting a business is not so awesome, and being a boss is not so great, but If the innovative products I want to realize can be brought to the market with the help of capital, then entrepreneurship is the best way for me to realize this dream. It happens that the national policy is also guiding in this direction, and I have found this turning point and grasped it. Got this opportunity," Zhang Ye said.
This year, she responded to the call to promote military-civilian integration and led the team to transfer to the State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics to engage in the design and development of civilian products related to artificial intelligence. As the first participant, she led the team to complete The results of the project were transformed twice. With the support of the Changguang Institute of Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Changchun New Area, Zhang Ye left his job to start a business and established a high-tech company with artificial intelligence as its core to serve industry and civilians - Changchun Changguang Xinyi Technology Co., Ltd.
A horse can't take ten steps with one leap; a horse can ride ten steps, but the merit lies in perseverance. All successes are not achieved overnight. Because of years of research and polishing at the Changchun Institute of Optics, Precision Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a solid foundation laid in the fields of computer vision, deep learning, and artificial intelligence, Zhang Ye relied on his determination and courage to break the boat. With the courage to do something, I started my own entrepreneurial journey. Unlike many people's "cut first and then play later" approach, Zhang Ye, without any cash financing, first successfully completed the institute's projects one by one, and then applied to his home institute to lead his team to leave their jobs and start a business. After fifteen years of hard work, he gained the support and recognition of his home office. Not only did he successfully leave his job to start a business, but he was also awarded the senior professional title of researcher after starting the business. Zhang Ye was very grateful for the training and cultivation of his home office and was determined to turn the company into a successful one. Well done, the parent firm also invested in intangible assets through Zhang Ye's invention patent. Gold always shines. Only three months after the company was established, she successfully obtained angel round financing from an investment institution in Beijing, breaking the rumors that "investment could not be made in Shanhaiguan" and the misunderstanding of "female entrepreneurs" at that time.
Exploring the company's characteristic industry path
The company has gradually moved on the right track from an uncertain future at the beginning. Zhang Ye is very grateful to the team members who have supported her and accompanied her along the way. When she came out from the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to start a company, two team members who were "technical experts" also joined hands with Zhang Ye to embark on this unknown journey, accompanying her all the way. today. Now the company is developing in a good direction step by step. With the joint efforts of more and more like-minded team partners, her determination to move forward has become stronger.
Today, China’s AI market is highly competitive. Zhang Ye has been thinking about how to find his own unique technological advantages in this context. Because he previously had a basic background in optics at the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhang Ye clearly knows where his team’s strengths lie. “We have been working in this industry for 16 consecutive years. All technological achievements today are transformed from the results of military-civilian integration. Compared with other practitioners in this industry, our understanding of technology and industry is better. It's different." Now she puts the company's core technical barriers in "AI + optics", forming the company's unique technical advantages. In addition to using AI to solve problems unilaterally, Zhang Ye's team is also combining front-end collection and relying on the concept of integrated design of optical, mechanical, and electrical computing to gradually find its own down-to-earth direction, and has emerged in some entrepreneurial competitions and opened up new fields. market.
As a scientific researcher and entrepreneur, Zhang Ye also hopes to create more job opportunities for young high-tech talents in his hometown. As a native of Northeast China, Zhang Ye knows that many people in his hometown have a desire to return to their hometown, but they suffer from the lack of career development space suitable for them.
Through the establishment of the company, she hopes to provide students who return home with more development opportunities on a high-tech platform with great potential, so that they can develop their careers and futures in their hometown.
Today, Zhang Ye looks back on all the past events of the company’s establishment more than a year ago with a lot of emotion. Especially in the early days of the company, everything was like exploring the jungle, but fortunately, she met many people who were willing to help her and gradually found the path that suited them. In the future, with the development of the field of "AI + optics", Zhang Ye will not only carefully develop his own new products, but also lead the company team to successfully implement AI technology to obtain cash flow, mainly in the fields of intelligent monitoring, special security equipment, etc., such as traffic police Illegal behavior identification can intelligently identify whether the seat belt is fastened while driving and whether there is smoking and talking on the phone. During the epidemic, with its strong R&D capabilities and forward-looking vision, it began to develop a series of AI smart temperature measurement systems on the second day of the Lunar New Year, gradually opening up the market. In terms of market implementation, Zhang Ye said: "AI can empower all industries. Many directions will collide and find entry points, and we generally choose product directions that can bring greater social benefits and positive energy as the primary direction."
Even if the journey is long, it will be accomplished; however difficult it may be, it will be accomplished. Zhang Ye is full of confidence in future technology and industrial development paths. "I am very lucky to have found my mission and direction before the age of 40. We must not only realize economic value, but also realize social value. It is best to develop products that can be passed down. We will keep going." Zhang Ye is determined. say.