Empire Rising: Spain

Chapter 216: Chapter 155: The Weight of the Invitation

You know, in this era, the number of talents across various European countries is still considerable. Although compared to those extremely famous top scientists, these outstanding talents may lack a bit in fame.

Yet what they lack may not necessarily be in knowledge reserve or ability, but possibly just a tiny bit of luck.

This is indeed not an exaggeration. For example, regarding alternating current and direct current, most people in later generations only know about the current war between Edison and Tesla.

But in reality, throughout the long period of the electrification revolution, a large group of excellent electrical experts emerged from all countries in the world.

Some people might not have the ability to rank as top scientists, but some are really just short of that bit of luck, lagging behind others in scientific research.

Recorded in history are only the scientists who first obtained research results, while the second and third discoverers of certain research outcomes often go unnoticed by most people.

When Spain aimed to attract talents from many small and medium-sized countries in Europe, it quickly discovered many excellent scientists who had lost their jobs due to the economic crisis.

These individuals might not be top-tier, but they are also excellent researchers. For Spain, these people are highly important talent reserves, like pillars, and naturally cannot be ignored.

Although their treatment is slightly less than that of top scientists, compared to their current situation of having lost their jobs due to the economic crisis, it is clearly a rare opportunity for employment.

Moreover, at the Royal Spanish Academy of Sciences, these outstanding researchers will receive more opportunities. The academy possesses adequate research funding, and as long as they have the ability, they might change history and become pioneers in a certain field.

As long as they can complete groundbreaking research, neither the Royal Academy nor Carlo will be stingy with rewards. The most basic reward involves funding and property, and beyond that, there are noble titles rewarded, allowing them to become part of Spain’s hereditary nobility.

This point was explained in advance when inviting these researchers to join the Royal Academy. As long as these scientists make outstanding contributions to the various researches at the academy, they are qualified to receive Spain’s noble title rewards.

And the title depends on contribution. As long as the contribution is great enough, why not leap to become a Duke of Spain?

Though the new nobility won’t have land, such hereditary titles and significant status promotion are also irresistible to these scientists.

Let’s not forget, currently, most countries in Europe are under monarchial rule. Except for France, which is a relatively special major power, all European powers are monarchies.

This also leads these scientists not to reject monarchies; even many French scientists support the monarchy.

After all, Napoleon III’s rule ended only a few years ago, and the Royalist Party remains the largest faction in France.

Attracting these foreign experts has another benefit: they can freely use the foreign patents they come into contact with.

Of course, doing this definitely infringes patent rights. But the thing is, this isn’t the transportation and economically advanced future.

In this era, just any transnational patent case can cause a company to crumble. If people feel generous, they might give some transnational patent fees; if not, they simply plagiarize the patent.

Unless the company holding the patent has a certain voice in its country, and that country has some international standing, it generally doesn’t benefit from transnational patent disputes.

Other countries can delay for several years. In these years, something new will be developed from the original patent, even reversing the accusation by claiming the other side plagiarized their patent.

Of course, a transnational patent case eventually has to be litigated in the infringing country. How could one lose a case suing in Spain against Spanish companies?

Though this is somewhat unethical, it indeed is the choice of most countries and companies in this era. Instead of relying on others’ charity for patent fees, it’s better to turn research results into huge profits, earning money for further research first.

Just like the two famous cola brands in future generations. Although the cola formula seems mysterious, it’s actually not that difficult.

Maybe not able to mimic 100%, but imitating over 90% is feasible. However, because the two major cola brands have already occupied a huge market, it’s challenging for other brands to enter the cola market.

Moreover, the leading two brands, leveraging massive early profits, expanded their production lines wildly, significantly reducing their product costs.

Late-entering companies face high costs due to small-scale production, and this cost gap alone will make it hard for other companies to compete with the two giants in the cola industry.

Future colas maintain low prices, which indeed is an open-strategy born from the above factors. The two major cola brands, due to lower costs from large-scale production, naturally achieve profits at low prices.