Chen Chunxian
Chen Chunxian (simplified Chinese: 陈春先; traditional Chinese: 陳春先; pinyin: Chén Chūnxiān; 1934 – 11 August 2004) was a Chinese theoretical physicist and businessman. He was the founder of Zhongguancun in Beijing, often called China's Silicon Valley.[1] He initiated the project to create China's first tokamak device in 1973.
Biography
[edit]Chen Chunxian was born in 1934 in Sichuan Province, China. In 1958, he graduated from the Department of Physics of Moscow State University.[2]
From 1959 to 1986, he was a researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.[2] He initiated the development of China's first tokamak device and recruited engineer Yan Luguang to the project. In 1973, their collaboration created the CT-6.[3]
In 1979, Chen visited Boston and Silicon Valley in the United States and was greatly impressed. On October 23, 1980, he founded the first non-governmental entity in Zhongguancun, called the "Advanced Technology Service Association". (Only government-run entities can be called "company" in China.)[2]
Chen's company was shut down after an investigation, but he received validation from the central government in 1983, when Hu Yaobang mentioned him in a national statement. Many independent high-tech companies were founded in Zhongguancun, including Lenovo.[2]
In his later years, Chen lived in poor conditions and without health care.[2] He died on 11 August 2004.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Zhongguancun, China's Silicon Valley".
- ^ a b c d e Lawrence R. Sullivan; Nancy Y. Liu (2015). Historical Dictionary of Science and Technology in Modern China. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-8108-7855-6.
- ^ "严济慈之子严陆光院士：格言点亮人生之光". Sciencenet.cn. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
- ^ "Father of 'China's Silicon Valley' Dies", China.org.cn, 11 August 2004. Accessed 26 July 2016.