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The blue LED was supposed to be impossible—until a young engineer proposed a moonshot idea.

  • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    9 months ago

    Where do you think he would get the 3 million the company gave him?

    As the story describes, it was the founder who was acting emotionally that funded him. It was no different than a noble patronage of someone like DaVinci in medieval times. When the capitalist son in law took over, he was cut off. It was only Japanese culture from Japan’s pre-capitalist era that saved his job.

    • iopq@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      9 months ago

      The founder was acting in the company’s interest, that’s why you fund research.

      He was actually not cut off either, he wasn’t fired when he continued his research despite being told not to. He still received a salary and was able to use the equipment purchased with company funds