Chapter 777: 266, Investing in the United Kingdom_3

It was still the gold standard era, and according to the official exchange rate, one British Pound could be exchanged for about four US Dollars.

“Enough!” Walker joked, “I hadn’t realized you cared so much about this operation in the United Kingdom!”

Of course, he cared. If Walker’s trip to the United Kingdom went smoothly, then it would bring Donnie profits in the hundreds of millions. How could he not care?

“Then let’s keep in touch. If you have any problems over there, let me know at any time!”

Donnie said to Walker.

“Don’t worry, since you’re in such a hurry on this end, I won’t delay any further. I’ll head back to New York now to take care of things there, and then head to the United Kingdom!”

Walker also knew Donnie was anxious about these matters, so he didn’t delay either.

“When you come back, I’ll throw a celebration banquet for you!”

.

Walker came and went in a hurry. After he left, Donnie went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and met with Seymour Stratton, who would soon become the president of MIT.

Originally, when Stratton had spoken to Donnie on the phone, he had hoped to hold a ceremony for Donnie’s donation.

However, Donnie had declined such a suggestion.

It wasn’t that Donnie didn’t want the limelight; rather, he didn’t care much for such things.

The money was donated, and then MIT, according to their research direction, established laboratories. Everyone got what they needed, and it was good.

Under Stratton’s guidance, Donnie toured some parts of the MIT campus.

After entering the new century, MIT actually faced a severe financial crisis once. Charles Eliot, the president of Harvard University at the time, had proposed six times to merge MIT into Harvard College’s Lawrence Scientific School.

MIT, located in the narrow Back Bay area, could not afford the costs of further campus expansion, while the number of students kept increasing, causing overcrowding.

The school urgently needed funds or donations to maintain normal operations.

Eventually, amidst strong opposition from students, faculty, and alumni, the school accepted the invitation to merge with Harvard University. However, in 1917, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts prohibited the merger on the grounds of anti-university monopoly, ending the “merger storm.”

Subsequently, MIT moved to the banks of the Charles River in Cambridge City, close to Harvard University, extending along the coast for over one mile on reclaimed land.

The “new MIT” campus, filled with neoclassical architectural styles, was established, and the construction of the new MIT campus was actually made possible by the donation from George Eastman to MIT as previously mentioned.

It was also because of such a history that MIT cared so much about external donations.

After touring the campus, Donnie and Alice came to Stratton’s office.

In the office, Stratton expressed his gratitude to Donnie.

“Mr. Stratton, although I personally haven’t attended university, I have always greatly admired academic research, especially now that my personal business is growing larger, I feel increasingly the importance of the power of scientific research,” Donnie said.

“This donation, although it’s due to the shipyard’s technology, is actually also my personal interaction with MIT. In the future, MIT’s research in any direction, if there are any financial problems, you can tell me about your research direction. I will then select according to my own financial capacity and thus support the research financially!”

Donnie was very aware of MIT’s future potential. If he could tie his business to MIT’s scientific research projects, it might bring him many surprises.

Hearing Donnie say this, Stratton was, of course, very happy and sincerely said, “Mr. Block, on behalf of the entire MIT, I thank you for your generosity. Regarding the development research of the shipbuilding industry, you can rest assured, I will personally oversee it!”

Scientists also need financial support!

Donnie laughed, “Additionally, I plan to establish an entrepreneurship fund at your school to support those students with ability and technology but lacking financial support. If they encounter financial problems in the early stages of entrepreneurship, they can seek assistance from this fund. Once their projects pass our review, they will receive financial support!”

Stratton became even happier.

Although the trend of scientists becoming entrepreneurs had declined with the entrance into the new century compared to the last, most MIT students still harbored the notion of becoming millionaires with one or two inventions.

But what these people lacked the most was the initial capital for entrepreneurship.

The fund proposed by Donnie would not only solve these graduating students’ entrepreneurial ideas, but it would also attract many students to join MIT, which would also be a great signboard for MIT.

“By the way, I heard that your school also has an MIT Physics and Chemistry Laboratory. I am personally very interested in this area, so I also plan to donate $500,000 to this laboratory in my own name. I hope President Stratton will allow it!”

The investment in MIT was something Donnie had already thought of when he came to MIT. The laboratory’s fame had not yet been established, and it was the most suitable time for Donnie. Otherwise, once the laboratory became famous, it would not be so easy for Donnie to invest.

Stratton felt he was incredibly fortunate today. He had thought Donnie’s donation was a one-off of $2 million, but he had not expected that with these projects combined, the donation had nearly reached $3 million!

With such a result, their conversation became even more enthusiastic!

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