An elderly Academician led a group of technicians who were not specialized in the relevant field, and who mostly could not understand the complex mathematical theories, so what was the point?
Of course, Academician Zhou Guifang's capabilities were undeniable; it was mainly the issue of specialization. Zhou's expertise lay in technical issues, not mathematical theories. When he was initially assigned, the higher-ups probably didn't realize that without understanding mathematical theories, he wouldn't grasp the technical principles and thus would be unable to provide support in theory or technology.
Anti-gravity is a brand-new technology, without any 'standard components' as such, unlike computers or mobile phones where you can replace specific parts if you know where the issue lies. People who understand the basic theories and principles are the most important.