The Martin Jetpack from his company looks like the jetpack used in the Iron Man movies.[Photo provided to China Daily]

His Shenzhen-based institute was authorized in November to build the first State lab for the development of meta-material electromagnetic modulation technology.

While Liu aspires to build a global innovation business, some critics say he spends more time marketing his concepts than launching products.

"I welcome open discussions on our technologies and scientific research. But I refuse to give in to rumors or hurtful words," says Liu.

"I have unveiled so many products in a short time that the media and public may need more time to understand that."

When he returned to China in 2009, metamaterial was thought to be pseudoscience. Even in the West, it was still a comparatively new concept, says Liu.

He and four other Duke PhDs began their research with only 200,000 yuan ($30,000) in their pockets at the time.

Liu says his father sold a car to support his institute in Shenzhen.

Setting up his Asian innovation center in Singapore in June, the man now has branches in about 12 countries and regions.

"I try to finish the urgent work at hand so that I can be with my wife when she gives birth to our baby later this year," says a smiling Liu.

Liu's wife used to be his doctoral schoolmate at Duke and now works in the Kuang-Chi Institute of Advanced Technology.

Yue Yutao, 34, director of the research and development department of Liu's Shenzhen institute, says: "Liu is always full of strange yet innovative ideas."

Yue started to work there in 2011. He says Liu is "gifted both in scientific research and business management". The word "tired" is not part of Liu's life and his ambitious plans can easily excite people around him.

Liu draws his inspiration from Isaac Newton, who in his words changed the world in many ways.

Liu hopes he can be an innovator who will make significant changes. He knows that the road will be a lonely one.

Liu was born in Xi'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi province and later moved to Shenzhen with his parents.

He says his school years in Shenzhen and later in the eastern Zhejiang University turned him into an innovative man who wants to break boundaries in science.

Liu says that later this month his aircraft Traveler, with people on it will have a test flight over the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Last June, the aircraft had its first flight over New Zea-land.

"The most exciting moments in my life come from successful launches of my high-tech products," says Liu, adding that they make him feel the future is much closer to the present and that's why he calls himself a "future designer".