Suraya Abdul Rashid joins Breakthrough Energy’s Innovator Fellows program from Qarbotech, an agritech startup based in Malaysia. With more than 20 years of experience in chemical engineering and nanotechnology, Suraya is the founder and Chief Scientist of Qarbotech, and the inventor behind the company’s core technology, developed from Universiti Putra Malaysia.

At Qarbotech, she leads technology development and validation of QarboGrow, a photosynthesis enhancer that boosts crop yields while reducing chemical inputs. This breakthrough addresses global food security and climate challenges by enabling farmers to increase productivity more sustainably. The Fellows program will support Suraya in scaling scientific validation and building international partnerships to deliver this innovation worldwide.

Beyond Qarbotech, Suraya contributes to the engineering and technology fraternity in Malaysia, and supports young entrepreneurs championing STEM. She enjoys traveling, entertaining family and friends, and spending time in nature. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nottingham and a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London.