Chapter 152: New Testing Ground (7)

The moderator took the microphone again.

"Thank you, President Nam Jae-min. Next, Chairman Oh Tae-hoon of Ashin Finance Group will speak."

Gazes turned toward someone.

Chairman Oh Tae-hoon, wearing silver glasses, slowly leaned forward.

He was a figure representing the domestic financial sector and a person recently receiving the industry's attention for the creation of a Korea-US joint infrastructure fund.

"I am Oh Tae-hoon of Ashin Finance Group."

Chairman Oh Tae-hoon's voice was calm yet had a sense of weight.

"If the various proposals discussed today were cooperation centered on technology and industry, I believe the role of the financial sector is the safety net that supports that foundation."

He continued speaking while flipping through the documents.

"Our group is already cooperating with major banks in the Western US region and reviewing the project financing structure. In particular, we have prepared mid-to-long-term investment support measures for defense, semiconductors, and energy infrastructure. In this process, I would like to propose the establishment of the K-US Industrial Fund in which Daehan Finance, Taeseong Group affiliate banks, and our Ashin Finance participate jointly."

A sense of tension dwelled in the conference room again.

Director Michael Leonard spoke.

"If stable support from the financial sector is added, the cooperation plans discussed today sound much more realistic."

Oh Tae-hoon smiled softly.

"Thank you. Eventually, funds must flow smoothly for all industries to grow properly."

He finished speaking while bowing his head.

In fact, the content he spoke about was not a simple proposal.

Ashin Finance Group was already contacting major banks in the Western US region and practically reviewing project financing, which is a fund procurement structure for large-scale projects.

To put it simply, it is a method where the private financial sector leads the gathering of funds and operates them long-term, without depending on government subsidies or one-time investments.

Within that framework, Oh Tae-hoon presented a vision for establishing a new fund in which Daehan Finance, Taeseong Group affiliate banks, and his own Ashin Finance participate jointly.

Namely, the K-US Industrial Fund.

It was a joint investment platform in which Korea and the US participated together to support industrial projects of both countries.

The moderator soon introduced the next person.

"Thank you, Chairman Oh. Next, Vice Chairman Park Ji-ho of Serin Materials, please speak."

Dressed in a neat suit, he cleared his throat in front of the microphone.

As expected of a figure representing the secondary battery industry, he pointed out only the core.

"To stabilize the core material supply chain for secondary batteries, Serin Materials has been promoting the establishment of cathode material‧electrolyte factories in the US starting from this year. In particular, following this cooperation discussion, we are reviewing a plan to establish a small pilot line on some sites within the LA complex mentioned just now."

He added while checking the documents one by one.

"The expansion of the electric vehicle market in the US is like the future we must move toward. We plan to be not just a company that supplies simple parts, but to cooperate directly with finished car companies to build a circular ecosystem that leads from materials to batteries, and then to recycling."

Serin Materials is a company that makes secondary battery materials, which are the core of electric vehicle batteries.

It meant that they would now manufacture cathode material‧electrolyte produced in Korea directly at the US local site to stabilize the supply chain.

As the first stage of that plan, they are promoting a plan to establish a pilot line, which is a small trial production line, inside Daehan Construction's complex being created in the outskirts of LA.

In other words, it is a test factory for experimenting with the local environment, personnel, and technical compatibility in advance before building a large-scale factory.

If this project becomes a reality, Serin Materials will secure a bridgehead to directly supply battery materials made with Korean technology to US finished car factories.

Therefore, it could not help but be very interesting for Director Leonard.

"That is also the direction we want. Supply chain stabilization and recycling technology are very important parts."

Park Ji-ho gave a short laugh and a greeting.

"Yes, so we are focusing on a long-term technical alliance rather than short-term profit."

He turned his head and looked at the moderator.

"Thank you, Vice Chairman Park. Next, Chairman Seo In-cheol of Brightfield Logistics will speak."

A man with broad shoulders and a tall stature bowed his head in a stooped manner.

Chairman Seo In-cheol was the head of Brightfield Logistics, a global complex logistics company, and a figure who dominated major ports and air logistics networks in the world.

"I am Seo In-cheol of Brightfield Logistics. No matter which field discussed today it is, eventually, it cannot be completed if logistics does not support it."

He continued speaking while turning the pages.

"We are already demonstrating a smart port logistics system centered on the Port of LA, Houston, and Savannah Port. If the facilities of Taeseong Group, the infrastructure projects of Daehan Construction, and the production lines of Serin Materials are linked, we can integrate the entire supply chain process into one digital platform."

Joanne asked while showing interest.

"If it is digital integration, does it include logistics data analysis or automation?"

"Of course. Big data analysis and automation systems are the center, but we are already applying real-time shipment and transportation management programs to some ports. Data collected through GPS and IoT sensors can be shared with each group's logistics network."

Joanne looked up after memoing for a moment.

"Then real-time tracking and even prediction seem possible."

Seo In-cheol wore a smile.

"That is right. It does not stop at simply tracking logistics. We are also developing an algorithm that predicts demand and transportation data to adjust departure schedules or reduce port congestion. Thanks to that, the shipment delay rate has decreased by more than 18% on average."

At those words, several figures in the conference room lifted their heads.

A remark containing actual figures was always bound to give trust.

"Also, if we link the logistics data of each country, not only the movement of parts and raw materials but even the production process can be predicted in real-time. If the companies participating in this cooperation discussion use the same platform, problems like supply chain confusion or transportation delays will almost disappear."

Director Leonard nodded his head while crossing his arms.

"It is quite interesting."

Chairman Seo In-cheol spoke calmly while closing the last page.

"In a way, the competitiveness of an industry is determined by the speed of movement and connectivity. We are a company that deals with things based on that connection. If this system is completed, everything from semiconductors to energy will be tied into one flow."

His neat voice resonated within the conference room.

After a short silence, the moderator announced the next turn.

"Thank you, Chairman Seo In-cheol. Now, as the final turn, Representative Lim Hyunjun of HJ Partners will give his opinion."

Everyone's gaze quietly turned toward one person.

It felt as if the air in the conference room was strangely wavering.

I sat with correct posture and sent my gaze to each and every person while maintaining it steadily.

"The common point of all the plans discussed today was connection. However, the industries currently taking place are not yet fully connected."

As if I had prepared something separately, materials were displayed on the large screen.

It was thanks to Secretary Jo Hana.

On a huge map, the flows of energy, logistics, semiconductors, and finance appeared as if they were connected by a single line.

"What you are seeing now is the Industrial Data Synchronization Network designed by our HJ Partners."

I paused for a moment.

"It is not yet a complete artificial intelligence. However, when this structure is completed, it will become the soil where AI will be born."

As soon as the words ended, the graph inside the screen began to change slowly.

The thick lines on the map intertwined and unraveled with each other, moving like a single organism.

What I wanted to create was not a simple database.

It was a system that ties together production, logistics, finance, and energy data that each company had been collecting and storing separately into a single flow.

For example, if a port in a specific region is blocked by a storm, the logistics data immediately sends a warning signal to the semiconductor and energy lines.

Based on that information, the system readjusts the alternative routes and supply schedules and even automatically suggests a way to minimize losses.

It was like the nervous system of an industry moving as if it were one body.

I was designing a structure where each company can breathe in the same rhythm while making the most of its strengths.

The AI soil I spoke of was eventually an environment where all industrial data can be read and interpreted in a single language.

In other words, it was the process of preparing the brain of the entire industrial ecosystem.

If I complete this system, even if an error in any one field occurs in a crisis situation, the whole will respond immediately and restore balance by itself.

That was not just an evolution of technology, but an innovation that changed the decision-making structure of nations and companies.

At that time, I slightly lowered my eyes.

The only person in the conference room who knows where the root of this idea came from is me.

It was thanks to me already knowing the things that would happen in the future.

Furthermore, it was also possible because of Synapse Tech.

What I showed now was a blueprint that brought technology from the future a generation forward and made it a reality.

However, the people who had no way of knowing that were holding their breath as if they had just witnessed the birth of a new industrial order before their eyes.

Joanne spoke quietly.

"Will this really be possible to realize?"

Director Leonard also spoke as if surprised.

"With this kind of scale, it must be viewed as a national-level project."

After saying that, he looked at me and asked.

"Representative, how much do you intend to invest to complete this system?"

The gazes in the conference room gathered on me again.

I answered calmly without even looking at any documents.

"I expect the phase 1 establishment cost to be about 7 billion dollars. It is the stage of establishing the basic network and data standardization platform. If we include the completion of the data hub connecting Asia, Europe, and North America, which is the phase 2 global network integration, we plan to inject a total of 12 billion dollars."

In an instant, the conference room was submerged in silence.

It was to the extent that Nam Yoon-kyung's eyes widened.

Nam Jae-min also moistened his dry lips while catching his breath.

Joanne laughed quietly.

"12 billion dollars... that is a difficult amount for the decision of a single group."

I smiled softly.

"You are right. So I view this not as the investment of one company, but as a system design for future industry and humanity. It is a task that should be handled by an alliance of people who move the future first, rather than an investment that one company must bear entirely."

At those words, Director Leonard lost his words for a moment.

And soon, he slowly nodded his head.

In that gaze, awe toward me brushed through.

Joanne also muttered quietly while keeping her eyes fixed on me.

"12 billion."

The inside of the conference room was swept in silence.

However, that silence was not simply from surprise.

It was because everyone was overwhelmed by me.