Sadeg Faris

Sadeg Faris
Faris standing in front of his over-400 patents
Born	(1945-09-28)September 28, 1945 Tripoli, Libya
Residence	Westchester County, New York, United States
Nationality	American
Education	Tripoli Arts and Crafts School
Alma mater	University of California, Berkeley
Occupation	Engineer, inventor, entrepreneur
Known for	Hypres, Reveo, eVionyx,
Title	CEO of Reveo, Inc
Spouse(s)	Kheria Faris
Children	4 daughters

Sadeg M. Faris is a prolific inventor and entrepreneur.^{[1][2] [3] [4] [5]}

Throughout his career, he made his main focus solving the most challenging problems, leading to several pioneering transformational inventions. His invention portfolio comprises more than 400 issued and published patent applications spanning a wide spectrum of science and technology disciplines contributing to more than 50 published papers as well a numerous conference presentations. Many of his inventive solutions became products, while others were licensed or sold. A sampling of his multidisciplinary science and technology contributions includes: His pioneering investigations leading to PhD thesis entitled “Characteristics of Metal-Barrier-Metal Diodes and Their Applications”^[6] he carried out fundamental theoretical and experimental work on quantum mechanically tunneling. His mission was to elucidate the real mechanism behind the ultra-high speed, femtosecond, point contact diodes made from 5 nanometer tungsten tips in contact with gold, platinum or nickel. His confirmation of the tunneling mechanism was relevant to accurate speed of light measurement and the development of scanning tunneling microscope, STM. Invented, developed and marketed (at HYPRES which he founded in 1983) the world fastest and most sensitive oscilloscope based on superconducting Josephson Junction microelectronics cryogenic technology and developed and demonstrated pico-second speed micro-chips performing logic, memory, and other cryogenic systems.^[7]

Pioneered the field of 3D stereoscopic displays based on the micro-polarizer array Pol, and micro-retarder array technologies.^[8] His company VRex, Inc. developed, produced several 3D products including: The world first 3D single lens projector family:,^[9][10] and 3D cameras, 3D flat panel displays, and content. In 1993, the world first 3D LCD-based notebook computer was introduced, garnering the Best of Comdex Award for that year.^{[11][12][13][14] [15] [16][17]} The 3D displays based on micro-pols were developed and marketed under a license by Arisawa Manufacturing under the brand name XPol.^[18] Since 2011 passive 3D TVs based on micropolarizers have become industry standard and are sold and marketed by LG,^[19] Panasonic, Vizio, TCL and many others selling millions of units around the world every year.

Innovative contributions to the field of electrochemistry leading to advanced energy systems, metal-air (zinc, aluminum and magnesium fuels) fuel cells, NiZn rechargeable batteries, and material innovations, 43 patents.^[20][21] They represent solutions to problems others could not solve, leading to innovative enabling technologies, such as ultra-high power low-cost air diffusion electrode (cathode with 3D catalysis), ultra-high ionic conductivity solid state membrane and the RefRec refuel-able rechargeable system. These, in combination with other components, delivered zinc fuel cell systems capable of 500–1000-mile range at energy cost of about $0.1/kWh. With a $60 million investment, pilot lines were built to manufacture and sell the key components, at a time when billions of dollars were squandered on hydrogen fuel cells, see the section zinc-air vs. the “hydrogen economy”.

Ultrafast, low-cost, error-free, DNA sequencing invention that will sequence organism genomes (humans, animals, plants, and microorganism) in under one minute. The increased accuracy has the potential to revolutionize personalized medicine by deciphering the sources of many diseases.^{[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]}

He conducted fundamental experiments leading to an advanced understanding of photosynthesis efficiency limitations and problems, and invented systems and methods to increase food productivity including San-Soil 3D multilevel farming technologies. These have the potential to meeting challenges of feeding the world by 2050.^{[31][32] [33][34]}

Other inventive solutions include: ultra-low wide format solar conversion, PV, ribbons,^[35] miniature wind array architecture, WINAAR, based on the square-cube law for reducing the cost of wind farms and the cost of energy,^[36] demonstrated water desalination technology based on electrochemistry knowledge,^[37]

After earning a PhD from UC Berkeley, he joined IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, where he made significant science and technology contributions, earning him 7 Invention Achievement Awards in eight years, and an Outstanding Innovation Award for his invention of the world fastest (picosecond) and most sensitive (micro-volt) oscilloscope. His invention of the Quiteron, was IBM Invention of the Year in 1983. And in 2009, the New York Intellectual Property Law Association named Dr. Faris, 2009 Inventor of the Year,^[38]

At HYPRES, the first company he founded 1983, many of the superconducting inventions became commercial products including the Picosecond Signal Processors, PSP 1000 and the PSP 750, the Primary Voltage Standard ^[39] and many others. He established the world first and only complete superconducting electronics micro-fabrication facility, fort he production of integrated circuits. This foundry has been made available to commercial customers.

At Reveo, Faris established, in 1991, a multi-disciplinary “InventQbation” laboratory where inventive technology solutions to problems are in turn spun out as independent businesses. From 1991 until the divestiture in 2008, many companies were spun out including,^[40] VRex, eVionyx, Chelix, Xellerion, PetComm and InventtQjaya in Malaysia.

The latter was established as result of an invitation by the then Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir, who admired the InvnetQbation business model and desired to clone for his mission 2020. That is the year he wanted his country to become an original contributor to science and technology, instead of a mere consumer of Western science and technology. As the 15-month report card illustrates, an astonishing rapid accomplishments were achieved toward the mission.^[41] However, despite that, the endeavor became mired in controversy as a result of bitter political feud and vendettas between rival prime ministers. Caught in the “crossfire”, Faris has been the recipient of vicious libelous and slanderous attacks in the Malaysia press and in blogs.

From Tripoli to America

Faris was born in Tripoli, Libya, on September 28, 1945, to illiterate parents who had a total of 12 children of whom only 7 survived due high infant mortality in post-WWII Libya. When his father died at age 11, he was admitted to the Islamic Arts and Crafts School,^[42] an institution founded by the Ottomans in 1899 for the orphan and needy children. There, his full day included, academic classes, apprenticeship in making furniture, repairing automobile electric subsystems, and playing clarinet in the school band. The hands-on training and curiosity influenced him to seek the science curricula at Tripoli Secondary School. Upon graduating in the top 10 in the national high school examination, he earned a full scholarship from Esso Libya (now ExxonMobil) and later the Libyan Government, and the opportunity to come to the United States to study. He went on to receive his BS, MS and Ph.D in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from University of California Berkeley.

At UC Berkeley

Validating the quantum mechanical tunneling device

Dr. Faris received his BS, MS and PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1969, 1971, and 1976, respectively. Under the guidance and recommendation of his thesis advisor, Prof. Ken Gustafson,^[43] he chose to investigate the properties of point contact (also known as metal-barrier-metal, or metal-insulator-metal, or cat whisker) diodes for his PhD thesis entitled “Characteristics of Metal-Barrier-Metal Diodes and Their Applications”.^[6] These devices were known to be extremely fast, in the femtosecond range, but the mechanism responsible for this speed not clear at the time. It was speculated that quantum mechanical tunneling might have been responsible. The mission of the thesis project was to determine the exact mechanism responsible for such high speed. Carrying out experimental, theoretical and computer simulations, his efforts were rewarded by confirming that quantum mechanical tunneling was indeed the main mechanism responsible for the ultra-high speed properties of these devices. The theoretical predictions and the experimental observation were near perfect match, and were used explain many experimental observations made by others but had not clear explanation.

Scanning tunneling microscope precursor

His investigations required learning methods to routinely make 5-nanometer diameter tungsten (tips) whiskers and the design and construction of unique and innovative apparatus to carefully and controllably make contacts of the fragile nano-meter whisker with nickel, platinum or gold plates. With the confirmation of quantum mechanical tunneling, ten years later, a more advanced apparatus for making nanometer point contacts, adding surface scanning capability, as a nano-resolution micro-scope, presently known as the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). For their invention of the STM, Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer of IBM earned the 1986 Nobel Prize.

The results of Faris’ elucidation of the quantum mechanical tunneling investigations were published in nine refereed publications, paving the way to not only to the STM but also to Faris's invention of ultra-fast low-cost DNA sequencing concept based on inelastic quantum mechanical tunneling spectroscopy.^[44]

Speed of light measurement

The femtosecond property of the point contact tunneling apparatus played a leading role in the absolute speed of light measurement by KM Evenson et al.,^[45] Evenson, KM; et al. (1972). "Speed of Light from Direct Frequency and Wavelength Measurements of the Methane-Stabilized Laser". Physical Review Letters 29(19): 1346–49. Bibcode:1972PhRvL..29.1346E.doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.29.1346, ,^[46][47] with astonishing precision of 1 part in 10-14. They used the point contact device [on the cover of the December 1978 Physics Today issue^[46] as a mixer of many highly stabilized laser sources mixed with a frequency standard source (frequency known with highest precision) to synthesize new frequencies and measured a beat note a low frequency that they can measure by means of an electronic counter. Thus, an independent absolute frequency measurement was performed, limited by the precision of the frequency standard source. Using a highly stable Michelson interferometer, they performed an intendment absolute measurement of the visible wavelength, referenced to a length standard. The most accurate speed of light is determined by multiplying the measured wavelength with the measure frequency.

To maximize the signal-to-noise ratio, Dr. Evenson needed to apply a DC bias to the point contact device. To his surprise, he observed an oscillatory behavior of the beat note as a function of DC bias, which he could not explain. When Evenson, became aware that the observed oscillations were predicted by the student quantum mechanical tunneling investigations, he invited him to his laboratory in Boulder, Colorado for two weeks to observe the crucial speed of light measurements. The oscillation of the beat notes, predicted by the theory and observed by experiments, could only be produced if the point contact device had femtosecond speed of response to produced currents at the highest frequency laser (visible) instead of response to its intensity a property of much slower devices. The constancy of the speed of light is the cornerstone of all physics: general relativity, quantum mechanics, quantum chromo-dynamics and the, Maxwell equations.

At IBM TJ Watson Lab in New York

In 1975, IBM began to scale up its high speed superconducting computer project^[48][49][50]

based on Josephson Junctions or JJ Tunneling Devices. These devices have the ultra-high switching speeds, ~ 1ps and ultra-low power dissipation ~ micro-watt. Dr. Faris’ PhD thesis work on high speed tunneling device science and technology prepared him for IBM’s Josephson Tunneling Project. When the recruiter visited the Berkeley campus, and subsequent visit to the TJ Watson Laboratory, Dr. Faris experiences were deemed to be a good match for IBM’s needs. An employment offer from IBM, to work on pioneering innovations in such a high profile most advanced computer technology was enthusiastically accepted and Dr. Faris moved to New York where he continues to live with his wife Kheria, where they raised four daughters, Rayan, Basma, Wafa and Sarah.

At IBM, from October 1975 to March 1983, Dr. Faris made significant inventive contributions to the science and technology of superconductivity, materials, devices, microelectronics and systems, earning him 7 IBM Invention Achievement Awards in so many years, and an Outstanding Innovation Award for inventing the world fastest oscilloscope that measured ~2 ps rise time electrical signal with the potential to be even faster in the sub-picosecond region. He was involved in designing, fabricating, and testing ultra-fast devices and integrated circuits for logic and memory, ultra-high speed measuring systems, and picosecond pulse generators.

Inventing the quiteron

He soon recognized the limitations of the JJ technology that were impeding the realization of the JJ mainframe compute prototype. Without authorization of his management, he began a search for an alternative to the JJ device that would emulate the properties of the highly successful transistor: A three-terminal device that has current and power gain, has isolation between input and output, and has a logic inverter function. His search led him to the field of non-equilibrium superconductivity and the generation and use of quasi-particles as the control agents instead of supercurrents of Cooper pairs. He used the new concepts to develop a three-terminal device based on stacking two tunnel junctions sharing a middle electrode. The bottom junction injects quasi-particles to alter the superconducting gap of the middle electrode. Since the top tunnel junction shares the middle electrode, its properties are also altered in a non-linear manner. This analogous to bipolar transistors, wherein the very thin base layer is the middle electrode. By choosing the appropriate parameters of tunnel junctions with quasi-particle injection, it was possible to predict the existence of a new device called the quiteron, (derived from quasiparticle injection tunneling). Several versions were made and tests confirmed that they possess transistor-like properties constructed from superconducting electrode. On the first National Inventor’s day, February 11, 1983, IBM chose the quiteron its invention of the year and the PC its product of the year^[51][52][53]

Founding HYPRES

In 1983, driven by the pursuit of independence, and the American dream, Dr. Faris bought a license from IBM to commercialize his patents. He founded HYPRES (hyper performance research) with a mission to commercialize products based on the unique properties of superconducting science and technology. As President, CEO and chief technical leader, Faris led HYPRES by building a world class team that developed and marketed commercial products, established strong foundation and infrastructure that still exist today. Key accomplishments include: i)-establishing the world’s first commercial superconducting IC Fabrication Facility; ii)- establishing foundry service business with standard and custom design rules enabling the company and outside customers (private and public enterprises, laboratories and academic institutions) to fabricate sophisticated IC chips for commercial products and for advancing the science of superconductivity; iii)-Marketing two oscilloscope and time domain reflectometer products, the PSP 1000 and PSP 750, which continue to hold records for being the fastest and most sensitive products of their kind, winning several industry awards; iv)- making ultra-low noise temperature mixers and mixer arrays for use in the mm and sub-mm wave communication applications; v)- inventing and making the fempto-second three terminal switch and vertical Josephson Tunnel junctions, US Patent # 4837604; vi)-developed the first viable process for making Niobium nitride JJ integrated circuits

Working with closely with National Institute of Standards and Technology, HYPRES developed became the sole commercial supplier of both 1-volt and 10-volt primary voltage standard chips and systems, made with all refractory niobium (Nb) technology. They incorporate 3,000 and 20,000 Josephson junctions respectively, working in unison, and for years, have shown no signs of aging or deterioration.

Dr. Faris left HYPRES in 1989 to establish Reveo, leaving a strong science and technology foundation for HYPRES to continue its leadership, serving the needs of customers including key technologies serving homeland security. Its present offerings include:

• Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs)
• Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs)

• Time-to-Digital Converters (TDCs) • Ultra-sensitive Signal Digitizers • Wireless Communication • IC Foundry Service • Programmable Current Source • Digital Amplifier Module • Wide Band Amplifier • Voltage Standard Systems ^{[54][55] [56][57][58]}

Superconducting computer renaissance

In 1983, after licensing Faris its patents to Faris to launch HYPRES, IBM dropped its JJ supercomputer project.^[59] Thirty years later, after significant advances in science and technology have been made at HYPRES, IBM and others, and others, a superconducting computer renaissance has begun. It is driven by ultra high speed and low power dissipation of newer superconducting deviceswhich meet present demand for higher performance systems that cannot be met with incumbent technologies.^[60][61][62]

Founding Reveo and its technologies and subsidiaries

While Faris’ HYPRES was an enterprise that is focused on a single discipline—superconducting science, technology and applications, science and technology and applications, Faris had a much broader ambition when he found Reveo in 1991. Recognizing his multidisciplinary problem solving abilities, his insatiable curiosity and passion for learning he decided to establish a laboratory he called the Edison Technology Portfolio, ETP, Lab, inspired by his role model.^[63] The mission is to invent solutions to the most challenging problems facing humanity regardless of the discipline, that lead to revolutionary (disruptive) innovations, instead of evolutionary innovations. The solutions that meet this criterion become members of the Portfolio. They are then considered for the proof-of-concept, POC, step. The next step after the POC successfully meets certain criteria, the proven innovation is ready for inventQbation, invention + incubation. This is a business model that inventQbates (spins out) companies comprising the team that carried out the POC, along with the IP portfolio to focus on developing and commercializing products in their respective technology discipline. The inventQbation process often includes a third-party funding partner.^{[40] [64] [65]}

In its 20-year history, Reveo’s ETP grew to over 400 patents issued and pending spanning diverse science and technology disciplines. There the foundation for launching several inventQbated companies delivering varying degrees of commercial success. ^[3] The following is a sampling of the Reveo ETP to illustrate the diversity of science and technology fields. They represent inventions that progressed to proof-of-concepts demonstrations, to prototypes and products:

Micro-polarizers and 3D Displays, VRex, Inc.

One of Reveo’s first research areas was in the area of stereoscopic imaging.^[8] In 1991, after the successful completion of a project for DARPA and the Army demonstrating the micropolarizer array VRex was spun out to develop and commercialize this and other 3D stereoscopic technologies. Over the next decades VRex was a leader in the stereoscopic field producing a full range of innovative products. These include the first single lens stereoscopic projectors: VR-1000, VR-2000, VR-3000, and VR4200, various shutter glass products, and stereoscopic cameras.,^[9][10] In 1993 VRex won Best of COMDEX award for its Cyberbook, the world’s first stereoscopic notebook based on passive micropolarizer technology. In addition VRex created its own software and original animated content.^{[11] [12] [13][14] [15] [16] [17]} Over the years VRex amassed dozens of patents in the 3D stereoscopic field, including hardware, software and algorithms. These were incorporated into a range of products from projectors, displays, and 3D glasses, to format converters and software.^[66] In the late 1990s Arisawa Manufacturing of Japan licensed the passive stereoscopic micropol technology to produce large 3D televisions under the name XPol.^[18] As the 3D imaging market has progressed, this technology has become the standard, and is used in all the passive 3D televisions on the market today, sold by companies such as LG, Vizio, Panasonic and others.^[19] These 3D TVs can be found in homes of millions worldwide.

Fuel cells and batteries, eVionyx and Xellerion

After successful preliminary experiments and proof-of-concepts Reveo spun out eVionyx and Xellerion companies that made contributions to the field of electrochemistry leading to advanced energy systems, metal-air (zinc, aluminum and magnesium fuels) fuel cells, NiZn rechargeable batteries, and material innovations, 43 patents,^[20][21]

They represent solutions to problems others could not solve, leading to innovative enabling technologies, such as ultra-high power low cost air diffusion electrode (cathode with 3D catalysis), ultra-high ionic conductivity solid state membrane and the RefRec refuel-able rechargeable system. These, in combination with other components, delivered zinc fuel cell systems capable of 500-1000 mile range at energy cost of about $0.1/kWh. With a mere $60 million investment, pilot lines were built to manufacture and sell the key components.

This was happening at a time when many people, ignorant of electrochemistry fundamentals, were perpetuating a myth that fuel cells can only be made from hydrogen. This erected a nearly insurmountable perception barrier; a “consumable zinc” air system had little chance, moving against the large sums, in the range of $25B-$50B, devoted to (squandered as later realized) converting the world to the “hydrogen Economy”. This mission was pursued by nearly every enterprise, public or private, every academe and financial institution and every government. Convinced that zinc-air fuel cell had an enormous price performance and range potential relative to hydrogen and lithium batteries, he devised a strategy in order to be heard over the loud noise from the hydrogen crowd, which is to design and build the eVictory pure electric vehicle powered by a refuelable zinc-air fuel cell with enough zinc fuel energy to drive 600 miles from New York to Detroit, Michigan to show the automakers, that a viable alternative that is superior to hydrogen really exists.

Though the first eVictory vehicle did not complete the full distance due to potassium hydroxide leaks, it attracted a lot of attention, press coverage, network news, winning a Guinness World Record. It also convinced and two major financial institutions to take the company eVionyx public to raise the $250 million needed to execute its strategy and compete with the enormous resources spent on hydrogen. After the S-1 document and the road show presentation were ready, these efforts were thwarted (victimized) by the dot-com stock market crash early 2001. In October 2003, the MeVictory, the world first all electric hybrid (refuelable zinc-air fuel cell in combination with a rechargeable nickel-zinc battery) established a second Guinness World Record proving a range of 524 km driven in the tropical climate of Malaysia.^{[67] [68][69]}

Faris's latest efforts promote the superiority of zinc-air fuel cells to hydrogen fuel cells and lithium batteries, an all hybrid electric bus was designed to demonstrate range capability with a 10,000 mile tour across USA and Canada. To alleviate range anxiety, the bus was designed to be refueled with zinc every 500 to 600 miles in one or two minutes and continue the journey.^[70] The planned tour was postponed due to the 2008 financial crisis.

In 2009 after years and billions of dollars spent chasing the “hydrogen economy” and after the realization that even “lithium batteries” will fall short due to its high cost and limited, the Department of Energy had recognized the merit of metal-air technology potential for electric mobility Batteries for Electrical Energy Storage in Transportation (BEEST) - In this topic, ARPA-E seeks to develop a new generation of ultra-high energy density, low-cost battery technologies for long electric range plug in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs).^[71]

Solar energy photovoltaic ribbons

The use of photovoltaic cells based on pure crystalline silicon is growing at a double-digit rate, serving the global renewable energy needs. The cost of per kW continues to be high, near $1000, driven by the high cost of making pure crystalline silicon. Reveo invented^[35] a radically novel purification method called “ ionic silicon purification”, ISPURE, that starts with ultra-thin, wide SiO2 glass ribbons in a continuously moving web. While soft, moving electric field and temperature gradients sweep away the impurities to the sides of the moving ribbon. Narrow side strips are cut out continuously and discarded. The pure molten glass ribbon continues to the next module where it is reduced to pure silicon. The next step is converting the molten thin silicon ribbon into a solar grade crystalline silicon ribbon. The ISPURE process is estimated to reduce material costs by at least an order of magnitude, paving the way to under $100/kW.

Wind energy

The conversion of wind energy to electrical energy has grown tremendously in the last decade. Denmark, a wind energy pioneer derives 39.1% percent of its energy needs from wind.^[72]

Wind turbine towers have grown in size reaching 125 meters high with 120-meter diameter blades to deliver nearly 10 MW per turbine. Faris discovered that the wind industry is following the path “bigger is better” based on incomplete knowledge of the fundamentals. For years the industry has been unable to correctly relate the turbine mass to its diameter, rotational and aero-dynamical parameters. The industry uses the ambiguous relation, where the exponent, is believed to vary from 1.5 to 3. Faris resolved the ambiguity by deriving an exact law, where the exponent is exactly 3 and the constant b is an integral independent of R that involves the turbine blade airfoil geometry, material density and shear strength, tip speed ratio, wind velocity, and other pertinent parameters. That led to inventing the method based on to obtain a law that relates the mass to the cube of the radius thereby opening new opportunities to reduce the cost of wind energy by a factor approaching 10.^[73]

Water desalination

The extensive knowledge gained through the development of electrochemical systems, fuel cells, batteries and membranes, led to many breakthroughs in the fields of water desalination. The concept is based on flow-through capacitors which when energized attract the chlorine and sodium ions and other ions to the capacitor plates, allowing pure water to go through. The key attribute is to lower the cost of water to much less than $1/m³ by reducing the electrical energy requirements of conventional reverse osmosis and flash distillation technologies. Several prototypes have been made with promising results.^[37]

Ultra-fast DNA sequencing

Faris invented and is developing a general purpose system for sequencing the genome, epigenome, proteome, and other macro-molecular systems^{[22] [22][23] [25][26] [74][75]} The invention applies nano-knife edge arrays in combinations with inelastic quantum mechanical tunneling principles in a system that recognizes in real time the nucleotide (T,C, G, A) sequence and CH3 of a stretched DNA without wet chemistry. Building on the extensive experience gained to develop the world fastest oscilloscope, the DNA sequencing instrument will be the fastest, lowest cost and error free . These attributes are necessary in order for genomics to realize its full potential . Ultra-fast DNA sequencing of plant and animal genomes (including micro- organisms) would advance many fields including: personalized therapies, improved food production, industrial biomaterials, and renewable energy. (US Patent # 7765607).^[76][77]

Controllable electroporation

US Patent 6,962,816, is a tool that enables DNA fragments to be transported into an organism cell through its membrane. Its aids genetic engineering of host organisms recombinant DNA so that their genomes can produce desired products including therapeutic proteins, hydrocarbons for energy, nutrients and many other uses.^[78] ,^[79][80]

Deciphering rhotosynthesis, multi-level farming

There continues to be a great challenge of feeding the world today which will be aggravated as the population swells to 9 billion.^{[31][34][32][33]} Per capita food production has peaked and begun to decline due dwindling per capita resources; arable farmland, water, and fertilizers. It is acknowledged that the plant photosynthesis, the main tool for food production has solar energy to hydrocarbon conversion efficiency of less than 1%. The full understanding to account for the other 99% losses does not exist.

Consistent with Reveo’s mission to tackle the unsolved problems, an investigation was initiated to unravel the mystery of low photosynthesis efficiency. The result published in a recent patent publication,^[81][82] is a mathematical equation, a description relating the efficiency to all the input resources: solar energy, water, carbon dioxide, macro and micro nutrients. It for the first time identified all the sources or losses. The over all efficiency expression is the product of several efficiency terms including: temporal, spatial, energy, physiological, and nutrient utilization efficiencies. To accomplish this, first principles analysis is made, solving enzymatic kinetic reactions equations. The key finding is that at least 10X productivity enhancement is readily available if soilless (SansSoil) indoor farming with pulsed LED light are used. Using the most advanced photosynthesis tool, the LiCor 6400 XT, with advanced high-intensity LED pulsed illumination, with many plant species; the CO2 plant breathing cycles has been discovered, yielding experimentally measured energy utilization efficiency between 5 and 10 times. These findings hold promise that the challenges of feeding the world in year 2050 will be overcome.

3-D multi-level farming

The new understanding of the photosynthesis efficiency and plant productivity, led to innovative indoor farming methods and systems:

1. The Traveling Seed Amplifier, TSA, Continuous Flow Farming
2. Permeable three-dimensional multi-layer farming
3. High-density three-dimensional multi-layer farming

^[82] Several prototype systems have been built and demonstrated proving all innovative aspects of system, ant the technology is now ready to be scaled up.

Technology sovereignty and InventQjaya

After 15 years of success in Reveo developing diverse technologies and spinning out companies, Faris began to see his InventQbation business model as a solution to help emerging regions and economies close the technology gap with developed technology exporters by nurturing indigenous inventions. At this point he was invited to give talks around the world discussion Technology Sovereignty vs Technology Colonization and nurturing indigenous minds and inventions.^[83]

In February 2002 Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamed, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, seeking ideas to improve technology output in his own country visited Reveo. Dr. Mahathir invited Dr. Faris to open a Laboratory to see if his InventQbation business model could be transplanted and thrive in a different environment, hopefully to spur indigenous innovations and meet his goals of Vision 2020 for a fully developed Malaysia. After several requested proposals, it was agreed that Reveo would seed the laboratory with 8 different patented disciplines.

In October 2003 Reveo and Dr. Mahathir officially Inaugurated the InventQjaya Laboratory in Cyberjaya, a technopark in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. In this time this Laboratory was built, staffed and operational, kicking off with Guinness World Record winning MeVictory all electric car demonstration of 525 km.^[84][85] A technology portfolio was transferred organized around 7 laboratories : Advanced Materials, Advanced Transportation, Electrochemistry, Photonics, Nanotechnology, Stereoscopic Imaging and General Research Services. A multinational scientific staff of 144 was hired, 21 PhDs from around the world, including bringing back Malaysian scientists from abroad. Eight commercialization initiatives were launched in areas of electric transportation, village electrification, smart windows. Five electric buses were fitted for field-testing, a fleet of electric scooters were built, a test site of water desalination was installed in Terengganu. InventQjaya filed 53 patent applications.^[41]

In addition to these scientific achievements, InventQjaya set up an educational outreach program for Malaysian students featuring lectures by scientific luminaries from around the world including Nobel Laureates. All in all great progress was made in fulfilling the mission to invent and discover for Malaysia.

InventQjaya caught in political crossfire

Soon after Mahathir retired, politically motivated vendettas and a public feud ensued. InventQjaya and many other projects were shut down by the new administration of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.^[86][87]

Mahathir said he spent 22 years as prime minister trying to change the mindset of the Malays and turn them around " …Another failing among the Malays, he said, was the lack of honesty and integrity…”^[88] This was achieved by discrediting Dr. Faris, though there was no evidence of wrongdoing. However, few politically motivated elements continue to insist on continuing their smear campaign to justify their seizure of the company. This smear campaign in both traditional press and blogs is in direct contradiction to the many significant innovative achievements and contributions to science and technology. Despite political motivated closure, Dr. Faris still considers the venture a success, it proved that innovation can propagate anywhere in the right environment. He still continues to lecture on innovation and technology sovereignty.

References