March 31 evening, since the invention of thin flexible paper battery exalted, "the World of Chinese Award 2006" trophy Finnish Chinese scientist Zhang Xia-Chang suddenly became a star overnight, his name has also spread almost the entire world. However, about half a year ago, almost no one has to know is what kind of people Xia-Chang.



    This is probably the Zhang Xia-Chang for the first time in their personal capacity, such an award, but on the thin flexible paper battery before the awards are almost all of Finland Enfucell company's name. As a cutting-edge innovative technology, the company in 2006 by the World Economic Forum as a "2007 Technology Pioneer." In the company's website is such a briefing about Zhang Xia-Chang: "The Dr. Zhang Xiachang, Enfucell the company's chief technology officer, the father of thin flexible paper battery." This sentence at once point out in his thin flexible paper battery R & D in the process of an important position.



    Engaged in scientific research, "I hope that their research can be useful to society"



    Zhang Xia-Chang talking leisurely, very leisurely. "My parents were ordinary workers in Shanghai, I was born in Shanghai. From 1-year-old to 6-year-old native of Ningbo, in, has been to school before returning to Shanghai, and the annual winter and summer vacations should be back to Ningbo. However, the time to be in Shanghai, Or a little longer. "Xia-Chang smiled and said she should be regarded as 1 / 3 of Shanghai, because to be coupled with 18 years in Finland.



    "I was admitted in 1980, East China Institute of Chemical Technology (now the East China University of Technology), specialized in biotechnology. Tell the truth, the profession is not my own choice, but the distribution of the school. But then I read more and more like it, This is a very professional potential. "Thus, in the East China Institute of Chemical Biology, he has read the Master of Engineering graduate.



    In 1987, Xia Chang stayed the work of master's degree after graduation. "In fact, graduate school, I began to serve as counselors and class teacher work, but the main task is to do research." In this way, until the second half of 1989, "In order to broaden their horizons and better development," Zhang Xia-Chang at their own expense go abroad to Finland, Helsinki University of Technology PhD studying biotechnology.



    "PhD period, I began to study from the 1993 bio-fuel cells. Ph.D after graduation, I stayed to continue the research work in this field. From a development perspective, this is a very interesting topic. In 2002, I have use this technology to the European space station did subjects used in the Mars spacecraft, it can save energy, and can avoid the space pollution. "



    "However, my current award-winning products, but also is our company's main product, and I had little to do with biotechnology. I started in 2003 to focus on the study of thin flexible paper battery." The reason from biological fuel cell to the current thin flexible paper battery, "because I want to decide according to the needs of society, and timely adjust the directions of research. Although I am now doing is a continuation of previous studies, but there are differences. from a kinds extent, are now engaged in the work is 'zero' in the beginning, this battery and bio-technology does not matter. However, their application object is the same, the purpose of sex is the same, are generated electricity to produce energy, are for low power consumption of electronic products. "



    Zhang Xia-Chang said firmly: "I hope their research can be useful to society, rather than confined to a particular area, I think this is the most important."



To start a company, "from technical staff to management personnel changes"



    In 2002, after years at the University of Helsinki, the application of automated laboratory study of low-voltage power supply, in order to promote his bio-fuel cell, Zhang Xia-Chang and colleagues from Finland, founded Enfucell Limited. Against this background the origin of the company's name. "Established companies start for me, feeling a kind of ripe. In Europe as long as you have the right idea, you can go to start a company, it is easy." Began in 2003, the company's main products from the bio-fuel cells gradually shifted to the thin flexible paper battery.



    It is understood that this side of the battery using zinc, the other side of the thin layer of manganese dioxide coated paper as a conductive body, the thickness of less than 0.5 mm. If necessary, a number of the battery stack can be used together to avoid the traditional problem of pollution that might arise in the battery can be used as a general household waste to be addressed. The battery prices are also very cheap, when the volume can be achieved when the price of just 1 cent. Compared with the ordinary button battery, it has the advantage of low cost, materials, environmental protection, and can be used as household garbage, size and shape of flexible, easy to integrate with the applications can be distributed into the volume.



    However, the Xia-Chang pointed out that the thin flexible paper battery in fact only an OEM product, "I'm afraid the future of this product and will not appear alone in the market, it must queue up after other application-oriented products together." It can be used as cosmetics, smart cards, RFID (radio frequency identification) tags, music, greeting cards, human epidermal drug-permeable membrane and paper LED power. Can walk into the one used in electronic paper, bistable non-volatile display and micro-sensors working power source. "These applications are the most innovative."



    "Our battery instead of the traditional battery, nor is it a new power supply. We are not compete with traditional batteries, but rather complementary relationship. A number of new electronic products will need our batteries, which is why we first need to study its causes."



    Zhang Xia-Chang, said: "We are currently under way a large-scale pre-production testing, and has with a number of applications of large companies had co-develop products. Although some places have been applied to our products, but generally speaking, the product has not yet completely onto the market. It depends on the promotion and application of the technology, when promotion and application of technology into society, our products will enter the community. This does not depend on our company's situation, but on society as a whole. Therefore, our company will make everything ready, if necessary, we can immediately put into production. "



    However, this must have a certain amount of capital investment in order to maintain the company's normal operation. Zhang Xia-Chang admits: "financing a company currently facing the greatest difficulty."



"At present, the world's only three such companies. From a public opinion point of view, Enfucell came in second place. Ranked first is an Israeli company, started their studies earlier than us, access to venture capital are also more than we do, is about 50 times that we, reaching 60 million U.S. dollars, but we are only 100 million euros. can be said that the question of funding is the bottleneck for further rapid development. "



"Although we currently have to maintain the normal operation of the company funds, but also by the Finnish official support. However, official support is limited after all, there is no way to large-scale business. If the company want a quick development, we must have venture capital. "Zhang Xia-Chang says with concern," In fact we have started looking for venture capital in the world, including domestic. "



    Zhang Xia-Chang In addition to managing technology, in management also have a. In college, he served many social functions, "I've been a squad leader university." This he later changed from a technical staff to management personnel have laid a good foundation. "This transition will certainly be difficult, but the key is to be employing people, to believe them, people have strong points. In particular the company, there are many Finns, you have to understand their personality temperament."



    Badminton, "I also considered the national level bar"



    "I'm still Helsinki University of Technology teacher, but the main work in the company." Xia Zhang Changping, when the work is very hard, the average daily time in the office to reach 10 hours, and the home she must continue to work. He is now very little return, each return a maximum of twice a week or two. Moreover, "Every time the total return to tamp down a lot of work, return to Finland after the overtime is necessary."



    Although the working life occupies most of the time, but Zhang Xia-Chang still spend a lot of time for physical exercise, especially on weekends. "This work is full of energy, if not hard to stick to it. Our family are particularly fond of playing badminton. My daughter is a Finnish National Junior Badminton team players, this year, 13 years old, I and my daughter play is well-matched. I have also considered the national level it. "Xia-Chang said with a smile.



    He said the Chinese people in Finland has set up a badminton club. Every weekend, everyone would gather together, and work temporarily put aside. At the same time, "we also Denmark, Sweden, Chinese organizations together, carried out the Nordic Chinese badminton league. I would also have organized a number of games, but due to busy with work, fewer and fewer such opportunities." He said not without regret that .



    In addition to badminton, the Xia-Chang also likes to play tennis, play bridge, "I love physical exercise in quite a number of," he said with some pride.



Talk about the cause, "I firmly believe that it will succeed"



    He told reporters, "Now there is a only 5-month-old son." But now for Xia-Chang, the cause is first. "I used to work at school, the family is the first one, but now start a company, the cause will become the first one. Our family life was stable, at home no worries." This enabled him to work wholeheartedly among .



    Spoke of his achievements, he said: "stick with things that will stick, this is one of my characteristics. For me, to do anything all wish to have a sense of accomplishment. As long as it will persist a success. "Xia-Chang for their cause is very persistent, even in the" 2006 affect the world Chinese "awards show, he never forgot to promote their products.



 



    "In fact, for success, I think this is determined by many factors. For example, whether the unremittingly, is there a solid knowledge base, the mind is flexible and market sensitivities. Particularly in the commercialization process, Can the market have a clear understanding, be able to see the development direction of the next 10 years, it is very important. "he said, his subsequent success and an accurate grasp of the market have great relationships.



    "For young researchers, I suggest they do their favorite thing. Moreover, they are engaged in business must be beneficial to society. And passed target is necessary to persevere and threw himself into, in order to succeed. "



    Zhang Xia-Chang of the product vision for the future with, "Our short-term goal is to set up large-scale production lines, while the long-term goal is to enable products to market." He added, "My career goals are goals in life almost. Hope that the near future, in the Chinese market, all people are able to see our products. "



Biographical file



    Zhang Xia-Chang



    Ningbo Beilun Xiapu native, graduated from East China Institute of Chemical Technology (now the East China University of Technology), University of Helsinki, Finland, and acquired a doctorate, is now chief technology officer for Finnish Enfucell. Last year, he developed low-cost environmentally friendly paper batteries can be used as smart cards, musical greeting cards, e-newspapers, such as power supply, can be used for RFID (radio frequency identification) tag. As a cutting-edge innovative technology, this success has been the World Economic Forum in 2006 as a "2007 Technology Pioneer."