The text chronicles the journey of Lenovo, originally known as Lianxiang, from its humble beginnings in 1984 with a small group of researchers and limited resources, to becoming a global powerhouse in the computer industry. It highlights the company's strategic moves, including the acquisition of IBM's PC division, and its challenges and successes in navigating the rapidly changing technological and political landscapes of China and the global market. The narrative also reflects on Lenovo's role in symbolizing China's emergence on the world stage, showcasing the company's evolution as a microcosm of China's broader economic and technological advancements.
On October 17, 1984, a group of eleven researchers from the Computing and Technology Research Institute in China convened with the idea of starting a new venture. With just RMB 200,000 in funding and an old building previously used as a bicycle shed, they embarked on what would become the Lianxiang Group, known internationally as Lenovo. The key figures in this endeavor were Wang Shuhe, the first general manager, Liu Chuanzhi, a computer engineer, and Zhang Zuxiang, a leading computer science expert. Initially named the "Chinese Academy of Sciences Computer Technology Research Institute New Technology Development Company," the enterprise was founded in a time of significant change, leveraging technology development to distinguish itself. Despite early financial losses from a failed venture into color TV sales, the company capitalized on intellectual property rights and computer service contracts. Notably, it profited from the "Han-card" technology, enabling the input and digital use of Chinese characters, a revolutionary concept at the time. By the end of its first year, Lianxiang boasted RMB 3.5 million in revenue and RMB 2.5 million in profit, significantly aided by the Institute's support, which kept costs low. The company's early success was marked by profits from selling research results, servicing and training for personal computers, providing services for the Beijing Central Agency of IBM, and selling the innovative Han-cards. This marked the beginning of a company that would grow alongside China, embedding itself in the nation's cultural and technological landscape.
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