Source: sznews.com  18^th Dec 2025

Report from Shenzhen News.com, November 21, 2025 (Reporter: Zhang Xiaochen)

It has taken Fu Chunhua twenty years to grow from a girl from rural areas of Hunan into a leader in the industry in Shenzhen. As the first graduate of the Electronic and Laser Technology major at Shenzhen City Polytechnic (Shenzhen Institute of Technician Education), she has painted a brilliant picture of her own life with light as her brush and technology as her ink.

Fu Chunhua

Driven by a Pioneering Spirit, Forging a Bond with Laser Technology

“I just wanted to venture out to the most developed region and learn cutting-edge technologies back then.” As she looks back on how she embarked on her journey with laser technology, the resolve in Fu Chunhua’s eyes remains unshaken. In 2001, 18-year-old Fu was studying at Hengyang No.2 Technical School. By chance, she learned about a joint education program between Shenzhen Institute of Technician Education and Hengyang Polytechnic. Eager to break through her comfort zone, she decided to seize the opportunity and resolutely became one of the first students of the Electronic and Laser Technology major in the Class of 2002. This joint education model required students to lay a solid theoretical foundation in Hengyang for one and a half years first, followed by one and a half years of practical training in Shenzhen.

Fu Chunhua during her student years (second from left)

When it came to major division, she did not hesitate to choose laser technology. “Back then, laser technology was an emerging field. Although my understanding of it was still vague, I firmly believed it was a track that could keep pace with the tides of technological advancement,” she recalled. “Even if we were the first batch of guinea pigs, I was willing to give it a try.”

Her first arrival in Shenzhen was jolted by the brand-new teaching model. More than that, the city’s innovation-driven atmosphere made her see boundless possibilities for the future. “The courses were closely aligned with the frontline of the industry, allowing us to access real laser equipment and practical training programs. It was a stark contrast to the theory-focused learning model in Hengyang,” she sighed with emotion. “What excited me most was the city’s inclusiveness and opportunities. It made me, a girl from a rural area, firmly believe that as long as I worked hard, I could gain a foothold and achieve life transformation.”

Building a Foundation with Skills and Overcoming Challenges

When she graduated and started job hunting, Fu Chunhua faced one rejection after another due to her petite stature. “I was determined to enter the laser industry, but I got turned down more than a dozen times. Yet I never gave up and took the initiative to turn to Teacher Chen Bishuang for help,” she said. “Teacher Chen Bishuang took us to visit numerous enterprises in Shenzhen and Dongguan, and constantly encouraged me, keeping me motivated to move forward amid difficulties.”

Finally, with Teacher Chen’s recommendation, she secured a position in the Technology and Process Department of GDLaser, becoming the last student in her class to land a job. “This experience made me realize that persistence and perseverance will eventually lead to opportunities. It also made me cherish every subsequent job opportunity more, and conscientiously hone every professional skill.”

Fu Chunhua (first from left) during her tenure at GDLaser

After joining the company, she quietly made a vow to herself: to own a house and a car in Shenzhen within five years. “I set this goal to give myself a clear direction for my efforts and motivate myself to gain a firm foothold in Shenzhen,” she admitted frankly. It was precisely this goal that drove her to take the initiative to delve into technology, and also fostered her proactive, determined and all-out approach to work.

The opportunity to truly make her mark in the industry came soon. At that time, an IPG laser that had been introduced to China less than two years earlier broke down, and even foreign technicians were at a loss what to do. Undaunted, she stayed on-site for four consecutive days, took apart the hardware, conducted repeated tests, and troubleshooted each potential issue one by one, eventually resolving the problem successfully.

“After that incident, many peers in the industry took the initiative to contact me. It made me realize that I was no longer just an ordinary technician, but someone who truly had the ability to solve core technical problems,” she said. This successful experience not only allowed her to accumulate valuable industry resources and customer trust, but also kindled the idea of starting her own business. “I firmly believed that with my technical expertise and experience, I could carve out a niche for myself in the laser industry.”

Deepening Focus on Niche Segments, Establishing a Foothold in the Industry

In 2009, Fu Chunhua founded Shenzhen FLS Laser Technology Co., Ltd. Looking back on her original aspiration for starting the business, she analyzed, "Although there were already giants in the laser industry back then, there were still niche opportunities in the semiconductor sector. Coupled with the growing domestic demand for laser equipment, it was an excellent market opportunity."

In the early days of entrepreneurship, she was confronted with a shortage of funds and resources: there was no fixed office space, and when there were no projects, she rode a bicycle and walked the streets to find customers in the rain with an umbrella. When she was rejected for importing foreign components, she conducted multiple rounds of negotiations and even traveled to Beijing in person, breaking the deadlock with her dogged perseverance. As the business gradually expanded, she realized that over-reliance on imported components was not a long-term solution, and resolved to shift the focus from "importing foreign components"to"independent R&D".

However, the biggest challenge in this transformation lay in the shortage of talents and insufficient technical accumulation. To address this, she quickly assembled an R&D team and focused on intensive cultivation in the semiconductor niche segment, adhering to the "small yet sophisticated" R&D philosophy. After hundreds of process validations, the team achieved a breakthrough in the niche segment. The pioneering compact laser for automated supporting systems recorded a monthly sales volume of over 300 units, and the industry’s first laser color-shifting equipment was widely recognized. These achievements propelled  FLS Laser’s market share in the semiconductor laser niche to 80%.

Group Photo of the Company, 2021

"After becoming an industry benchmark, I feel both proud and sober-minded," Fu Chunhua admitted frankly. She is proud that independent R&D has enabled domestic substitution, and sober-minded that as industry competition intensifies, continuous innovation is essential to maintain a leading position. As a female entrepreneur in the male-dominated laser industry, she has gradually identified her own strengths: "I am more patient and detail-oriented, making it easier for me to understand customers’ genuine needs. In addition, as a professional with a technical background and solid expertise, I have gradually won the trust of customers."

Grateful to Alma Mater, Upholding Original Aspirations

Since graduation, Fu Chunhua has maintained close ties with her alma mater. Currently, she serves as Director of the Alumni Association of Shenzhen Institute of Technician Education and Secretary-General of the China-Germany Intelligent Manufacturing College Branch. “Alma mater has given me not only solid professional skills, but also the spiritual foundation of courage to venture and strive,” she said with deep gratitude when talking about her alma mater. It was the practical platforms provided by the school and the meticulous guidance of teachers that laid a solid foundation for her career development.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Shenzhen City Polytechnic (Shenzhen Institute of Technician Education). She made a donation to express her sincere gratitude, supporting the development of the school’s education cause with concrete actions. As a member of the alumni association, when talking about her future plans, she said, “I hope to build an interactive platform for resource sharing and mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, enabling alumni to share industry information and connect with cooperation opportunities. I also want to provide internship and employment guidance as well as entrepreneurship support for young students, passing on the original aspiration of education of our alma mater.”

A group of alumni association members visiting FLS Laser

Looking back on her 20 years of struggle, she profoundly reflected, “Do not fear failure. Every fall is an opportunity for growth, and those experiences will eventually become the stepping stones for your progress.” Meanwhile, she offered advice to the young students of her alma mater: “I hope you can find a career that you truly love, because only passion can help you withstand the trials of time and the hardships of entrepreneurship.”

From a rural girl to the helmsman of a laser enterprise, Fu Chunhua’s “journey of chasing the light” is a vivid reflection of Shenzhen Institute of Technician Education’s educational philosophy of “valuing skills and cultivating competence”. The light that emanated from the campus has now illuminated the path forward for the industry, and is inspiring more technical students to take skills as their vessel and sail towards the vast ocean of possibilities with warmth and resolve.

(All photos in this article are provided by the interviewee)