Lead
The Six-Dynasty Pine has witnessed the camaraderie of studying together as classmates.
The Fountain Pool has carried their hard work as the boat to the ocean of knowledge.
Time flows away, but not the aspirations and ideals of the electronics alumni, nor their deep affection for their alma mater.
SEU, as the alma mater, takes pride in its alumni and cherishes the shining days we once shared in the School of Electronics.
A Special Alumni Interview Series themed "Shining Days in School of Electronics" is made to listen to alumni's stories of struggle, share their experiences and insights in the industry, pass on their spirit, and support the school’s development.
Introduction of The Alumnus
Hsun K Chou:
Hsun K Chou was admitted to the Radio Department of Nanjing Institute of Technology in 1956, majoring in electro-vacuum (the department is now the School of Electronic Science and Engineering of Southeast University), and went to Japan one year later to pursue further studies, obtaining a doctorate degree at the University of Tokyo. After graduation, Chou founded EICO in Silicon Valley, a company that engaged in the semiconductor manufacturing business, and he has been a business angel since 1992.
On October 16, 2018, Chou returned to SEU and reunited with classmates he had not seen for 61 years. The university presented him with his academic records from back then—a precious and unexpected gift that moved him deeply.
Former Vice President of SEU Huang Dawei presenting Hsun K Chou with his academic records
Chou is grateful to his alma mater and the college. On September 22, 2020, he donated $5 million to his alma mater through the Education Foundation of Southeast University, which was used to support the construction of the Advanced Materials and Devices Laboratory of the college.
On November 1, 2023, a warm and sunny autumn day, Chou revisited SEU，and a heartfelt welcome ceremony was held for him in the lobby of the newly inaugurated Electronics Building.
Former Presidentof SEU Huang Ru presenting Chou with the title of "Honorary Trustee" of Southeast University
On June 11, 2024, Chou and his wife, Ms. Chou Aizi, revisited the campus, touring the under-construction Laboratory, the new school building, and the students' practice center for innovation.
In 2024, Chou donated another $1.5 million to support the financially disadvantaged students at SEU. On March 31, 2025, Chou returned to SEU to unveil the Shungui Laboratory and communicate with the college faculty and students.
At the Jiulonghu Campus of SEU stands a sleek silver-gray laboratory building, emblazoned with the words "Shungui Laboratory." Built with a $5 million (approx. ¥35 million) donation from 1956 Alumnus Hsun K Chou, this Advanced Materials and Devices Laboratory carries the profound affection of an octogenarian for his old school.
On November 1 in 2023, Hsun K Chou took his first photo with the laboratory under construction.
On March 31 in 2025, Shungui Laboratory was inaugurated, marking Chou's first visit to the completed laboratory and a friendly communication with faculty and students.
Vice President of SEU Sun Litao and Chou unveiling the laboratory together
Vice President of SEU Sun Litao and Deputy Party Secretary Xing Jihong accompanying Chou on the lab tour
From a young student living in thatched dormitory to a titan in the area of semiconductor packaging and testing, from Southeast University to the University of Tokyo, from a Silicon Valley entrepreneur to an angel investor, Hsun K Chou has fulfilled the vow of "Strategy for Invigorating China through Science and Education."
Academic Experiences: Breakthrough Journey in the Semiconductor Field
Recalling his time at Nanjing Institute of Technology (now Southeast University), Chou was deeply moved. At 19, he enrolled in the Radio Engineering Department, becoming one of the first students majoring in "Vacuum Electronics" of new China. Life in thatched huts left the deepest impression: "The dorm was a brand-new thatched shed, crammed with 14 classmates. I lived on the upper bunk, near the high window. Nanjing's summers were scorching, but with the window open, I could barely sleep," he recalled. At that time, Nanjing Institute of Technology was undergoing departmental adjustments, and teaching resources were tight. The thatched dorms were freezing in winter and sweltering in summer, leading to discontent among some students. Later, Professor Chen Zhang visited the dorm to explain: "The nation has gathered the best radio talents from the areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang here, but there was no time to build proper dorms, so we had to use thatched sheds." He added, "The admission scores for our radio department are no lower than Tsinghua’s." These words kept young Chou awake all night, fortifying his resolve to study and igniting his vow to devote his youth to China’s semiconductor industry.
Students' Activities at Nanjing Institute of Technology in 1950s (From the Archives)
Chou told the students in the interview, "Your conditions today are worlds better than ours back then. You’re so fortunate."
Chou sitting in the Li Wenzheng Library in 2018
After a busy year of study, Chou had to leave for Japan in the summer of 1957 due to family reasons. At Tokyo Institute of Technology, he was diligent and inquisitive. After a decade of hard study, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo and moved to Silicon Valley to research semiconductor materials, LEDs, and integrated circuit production. This experience laid the foundation for his later success in semiconductors.
Angel Investment: The "Golden Finger" of Silicon Valley
After arriving in the U.S., Chou settled in Silicon Valley and then worked at various semiconductor firms, specializing in DRAM and SRAM technologies. In the 1980s, semiconductors were among the first industries to boom in Silicon Valley. When National Semiconductor Corporation faced government lawsuits over reliability and testing issues, Chou, then a plant manager at Toshiba, spotted the opportunity of the market. In 1984, he founded a testing and packaging service company for semiconductor firms, securing Toshiba’s testing business as his first client and later expanding to serve other industry players.
Since 1993, Chou has used his own funds to start angel investment, becoming one of Silicon Valley’s earliest venture capitalists and the first Chinese in the field. He has invested in 22 startups, with 8 going public and 6 acquired—most founded by Chinese engineers in Silicon Valley, such as ZOOM, NETSCREEN, Fortinet, and GigaDevice. Among these companies, NETSCREEN became the first Internet security company to list in the United States following his investment.
Hsun K Chou with Zhu Yiming, founder of GigaDevice
In 2004, GigaDevice was in its infancy, urgently needing startup capital. The company's founder, Zhu Yiming, approached Chou and introduced his static random-access memory (SRAM) model. Intrigued by the model and eager to support young talent, Chou invested $100,000 and rented his garage to Zhu at a low cost. It was here that GigaDevice grew into a leader in China’s memory chip industry. In other words, the company’s success is inseparable from Chou’s support. Like GigaDevice, numerous other firms backed by Chou have made transformative contributions to China’s semiconductor development.
Gratitude for the Source of Success: Building Shungui Laboratory
In 2020, on the eve of the 98th anniversary of Southeast University’s School of Electronics Science and Engineering and the 60th anniversary of its independent establishment, Hsun K Chou heard that the university and the School of Electronics were building a new electronic building and laboratory. Then he reached out to the school in the hope of offering his support. To express his gratitude for the education provided by the school and his hopes for its future development, Chou donated $5 million to SEU through the Education Foundation of Southeast University. The donation was used to support the construction of the Advanced Materials and Devices Laboratory, which was named the "Shungui Laboratory." In recognition of Chou’s care and support for the development of SEU, the university specially awarded him the honorary title of "Honorary Trustee" of Southeast University.
Hsun K Chou returned to campus on November 1, 2023
The naming of the Shungui Laboratory carries three layers of meaning: Firstly, "Gui" (圭) is homophonic to the Chinese of "silicon" (硅), which is the core of the electronic sciences discipline. Secondly, the literal meaning of "Gui" is "clean", metaphorically representing the craftsmanship of scientific research. Thirdly, "Gui" is also homophonic to the Chinese of "return" (归), reflecting the power of alumni. Moreover, the character "Shun"(顺) has a double meaning. It not only wishes for smooth and successful research but also emphasizes the mission of "diverse paths leading to the same goal: to forge the future of electronics together."
Hsun K Chou and the completed laboratory
Hsun K Chou said that in Japanese, a person in their seventies is called "an elder in the late stage," but instead of this name, he preferred to be called "a contributor in the late stage." He hopes that the "Shungui Laboratory" will cultivate more outstanding talents for the country.
Chou and his wife in the office of the Electronics Building
A Heart-to-Heart Conversation: The Senior’s Earnest Advice to Junior Students
During several visits back to SEU, Senior Hsun K Chou had warm exchanges with the students, discussing studies, research, entrepreneurship, and life...
When asked what qualities undergraduates should cultivate, Chou recalled the days studying in Tokyo. Due to the language barrier and the unfamiliar knowledge, study was quite challenging for him. However, he had already built a solid foundation in mathematics, physics, and chemistry during his first year of university in China, which proved to be immensely helpful in his later studies. Therefore, the senior hoped students could prioritize the basic education during their undergraduate years. He also hoped that they could strive for excellence at any time, whether in job hunting or further studies, and always doing their best in their work or field of research. When it came to career planning, whether working in a well-known enterprise, a startup, or a small company, one should always focus on their own work and strive to advance. He said that this was a mindset that students should establish and remember during their undergraduate years.
Hsun K Chou experiencing the "Lark" in the laboratory
When talking about the difficulties faced during the early stages of entrepreneurship, Chou pointed out that the first major challenge was money. In the early days of his business, he had to mortgage his own house. He smiled and said, "If I didn’t have confidence, how could other investors have confidence in my company?" It was precisely his self-confidence and persistence that paved the way for future success. The second challenge was team building. A good team can make a project much more effective. Chou believed that the most important factor in forming such a team was the team member's character.
When asked how he selected investment projects, Chou said that the most important aspect for him was whether the project leader had perseverance. If the leader lacks confidence in their own project or the drive to persist, the project is destined to fail. On the other hand, individuals with perseverance are often not deterred by setbacks; instead, they rise to the challenges, continuously adjust their strategies and methods, and overcome technical difficulties to achieve success. "Such people are reliable, and such projects are worth investing in."
When students asked him what qualities an outstanding researcher should possess, Chou particularly emphasized the importance of concentration. He said, "Most people have similar IQs, but some focus their energy on practice, and they are closer to success."
In Chou's words, born in China and educated abroad, he deeply understands the importance of technology and education for China's development. As a practitioner in the semiconductor industry for decades, he looks forward to the continued improvement of China’s semiconductor industry chain, its rising standards, and the emergence of more outstanding entrepreneurs, who will contribute even more to the country and society.
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Some materials sourced from past publications of the college and online resources
Text compiled by Wan Jiajun
Edited by Qiu Hanshuo
Reviewed by Ye Jing