Interview with Zhao Yan, Co-founder of Saisi: Mastering Time to Build the Future Infrastructure of the Metaverse!

The sci-fi imagination of time in film and television has never stopped, and people's attention to time synchronization has been extended from the big screen to real life.

In the digital era, time and frequency serve as the 'pulse' of our world, with time-frequency systems being extensively utilized in critical sectors such as telecommunications, power, transportation, and finance. Establishing precise and stable time-frequency is a pivotal component in achieving ubiquitous connectivity, and it remains a core focus area for Saisi's decade-long dedication.

Founded in 2013, Zhejiang Saisi Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. With a 20-mu (approximately 3.3-acre) campus and nearly 20,000 square meters of R&D and office space, the company specializes in developing and manufacturing high-performance clock chips, crystal oscillators, atomic clocks, clock systems, clock modules, and comprehensive time-frequency solutions for large-scale spatiotemporal information management. Its products and solutions serve critical sectors including 5G communications, smart grids, smart cities, satellite navigation, and aerospace.

During this grand tour, Sina VR visited the Saisi Research and Innovation Headquarters at Beijing's Zhongguancun Sci-Fi Industry Innovation Center in Shijingshan District, immersing itself in the cyberpunk aesthetics and sci-fi future infused with the Winter Olympics spirit of Shougang Park. Together, we explored the future infrastructure of the' metaverse'—time-frequency.

Sina VR conducted an exclusive interview with Ms.Zhao Yan, co-founder of Saisi and General Manager of its subsidiary Xikemore (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd., to explore the application and development of time-frequency innovation technology in the digital economy. Zhao Yan stated that the Saisi team has systematically developed a comprehensive product ecosystem, progressing from basic equipment to system solutions and core electronic components. The company's independently developed clock SOC chip has disrupted the monopoly in the mid-to-high-end time-frequency chip market, playing a pivotal role in addressing weaknesses and strengthening core competencies.

Time-frequency intelligent manufacturing helps China "chip"

The importance of time synchronization is not limited to a specific field or industry, as the application of time-frequency technology faces broader prospects. According to reports, Saisi, based on its own stage and the state of China's time-frequency industry, has implemented a full-chain product development strategy from "point" to "line" and then to "surface". Starting with in-depth exploration of time-frequency complete products, it achieves single-point breakthroughs in performance across various industries in the time-frequency sector; extending to module/card, testing instruments, network management systems, and other applications tailored to market demands, enriching the diversity of time-frequency product lines; and simultaneously laying out core electronic components in advance, innovatively developing products such as clock chips, crystal oscillators, and atomic clocks, thereby securing multiple breakthroughs. Through years of relentless progress, Saisi has continuously identified user pain points within its expanding user base, successfully connecting the entire chain of time-frequency products from point to line and surface, integrating the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain, and providing society with comprehensive end-to-end time-frequency synchronization solutions. The breadth and depth of time-frequency technology applications continue to expand.

As a pivotal platform for technological innovation, cities maintain close ties with innovation activities and serve as key drivers of such endeavors. Conversely, technological progress facilitates urban industrial upgrading and governance modernization. In the realm of innovation and talent development, Saisi has established R&D centers across multiple cities including Beijing, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Jiaxing. Zhao Yan emphasized that high-tech enterprises and urban development are mutually reinforcing. The technological innovations of high-tech firms play a vital role in coordinating urban infrastructure, industrial systems, ecological conservation, public services, and urban safety, while also energizing urban development.

Zhao Yan stated that technology is the primary productive force, talent is the primary resource, and innovation is the primary driving force. Saisi has always adhered to and continuously strengthened in-depth cooperation with universities and research institutes, such as Peking University, Beihang University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The integration of industry, academia, and research is highly advanced, with independent cultivation of a talent echelon. Saisi also hopes that the new generation of students can devote themselves to the cause of China's time-frequency technology, contribute to China's "chip" industry, maintain patience and perseverance, embody the spirit of craftsmanship, and achieve both industrial success and personal growth.

Time-frequency innovation technology enables powerful computing power

Zhao Yan emphasized that high-tech enterprises play a pivotal role in digital transformation by driving technological innovation and industrial upgrading. These companies provide advanced technological products and solutions that boost economic growth and social progress. Through R&D and application of cutting-edge technologies, they facilitate digital transformation across industries, enhance production efficiency and quality, reduce costs, improve user experience, and promote coordinated development of industrial chains. Moreover, high-tech enterprises serve as innovation leaders, creating greater social value and employment opportunities through technological breakthroughs and intellectual property protection.

As a national high-tech enterprise and specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative (SRDI) enterprise, Saisi has been prioritized by multiple state-owned funds, supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and actively recruited by provincial and municipal governments. The company's high-performance time-frequency synchronization solution delivers precise time and frequency references, driving digital transformation across industries, enhancing system performance and efficiency, and fostering technological innovation and development.

On the interpretation of time-frequency technology, Zhao Yan noted that this innovative approach significantly enhances computational power, creating a more efficient environment for algorithms to index vast databases. Consequently, Saisi's products will be widely adopted across various fields, including the metaverse, 6G, neural network-based virtual time precision, and AI technologies.

Taking the metaverse as an example, Zhao Yan noted that this digital realm is fundamentally transforming human perceptions and lifestyles. The revolution challenges traditional time concepts, as metaverse time fundamentally differs from real-world time in nature. To ensure all operations and events in the metaverse follow correct chronological order, Saisi's time-frequency technology provides high-precision synchronization. This enables all nodes and entities within the metaverse to operate based on a unified time reference, maintaining temporal consistency across the entire ecosystem. The technology also synchronizes clock frequencies across devices, achieving cross-platform time consistency that ensures a seamless and unified experience on any device.

In the future, as the foundational infrastructure of the metaverse, time synchronization technology will see its application boundaries continuously expand with the rapid advancement of smart city development into the 3.0 era, while the time-frequency commercial ecosystem will also undergo continuous reshaping and renewal.