The Coordinate System - Rory Riggs
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main entity: Commentary: Systems Economics — A New Prescription for Risk Management
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Rory Riggs
type: Person
given name: Rory
additional name: Balfour
family name: Riggs
alternate name: Rory Balfour Riggs
alternate name: Rory B. Riggs
description: Rory Riggs is an inventor, executive, and investor who applies one system, the Locus Model, across biotechnology, finance, and economics. Mr. Riggs is Executive Chairman of Syntax Data, which has built a foundational coordinate-based information infrastructure for finance and economic data based on his patented Locus Model and Functional Information System (FIS).
job title: Executive Chairman / Founder
works for: Syntax Data (Syntax LLC / Locus Analytics)
gender: male
knows language: English
disambiguating description: Rory Riggs is an inventor, executive, and investor who applies one system, the Locus Model, across biotechnology, finance, and economics.
has occupation: occupation-syntax-data-syntax-llc-locus-analytics-executive-chai-7ec1f0-role
has occupation: occupation-cibus-global-ltd-chairman-of-the-board-role
has occupation: occupation-cibus-global-ltd-chief-executive-officer-role
has occupation: occupation-webs-etf-trust-syntax-etf-trust-ceo-and-trustee-role
has occupation: General Partner / Co-Founder
has occupation: Managing Member
has occupation: occupation-royalty-pharma-plc-chairman-and-founder-role
has occupation: occupation-biomatrix-inc-president-cfo-and-director-role
has occupation: occupation-rfp-corporation-chief-executive-officer-role
has occupation: occupation-painewebber-inc-managing-director-mergers-acquisitions-role
has occupation: Chair
has occupation: Chairman
alumni of: Middlebury College
alumni of: Columbia University
has credential: BA in Economics, Mathematics
has credential: MBA
knows about: Functional classification systems
knows about: Pharmaceutical royalty finance
knows about: Precision gene editing / agricultural biotechnology
knows about: Index construction and portfolio classification
knows about: Mergers and acquisitions
affiliation: org-new-york-genome-center-affiliation
affiliation: org-feinstein-institute-northwell-health-affiliation
affiliation: org-kyntra-bio-formerly-known-as-fibrogen-inc-affiliation
affiliation: org-intra-cellular-therapies-inc-affiliation
affiliation: org-sugen-inc-affiliation
affiliation: org-genenews-stagezero-life-sciences-affiliation
affiliation: org-nuredis-inc-affiliation
affiliation: org-bond-street-marketplace-affiliation
knows: Syntax Data (Syntax LLC / Locus Analytics)
knows: Royalty Pharma plc
knows: Cibus Inc.
knows: FibroGen Inc.
knows: SUGEN Inc.
knows: BioMatrix Inc.
knows: Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc.
knows: New York Genome Center
knows: Feinstein Institute (Northwell Health)
knows: Scientia Ventures LLC
knows: PaineWebber Inc.
knows: RF&P Corporation
knows: Middlebury College
knows: Columbia University
subject of: Cibus Appoints Co-Founder Rory Riggs as Chief Executive Officer
subject of: Syntax LLC Announces Launch of Stratified LargeCap ESG Index
subject of: Cibus Opens Gene Editing Facility for Trait Production
subject of: Cibus Closes Calyxt Deal
subject of: Cibus Named to Fast Company's Annual List of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024
subject of: Cibus Names Agricultural Biotechnology Leader Craig Wichner as Chief Executive Officer
subject of: Royalty Pharma Co-Founder Writes Open Letter to Board of Elan Ahead of EGM
subject of: Regarding Cloe
subject of: Margaret Crotty and Rory Riggs Health Care Leadership Award, 2024

Rory Riggs is an inventor, executive, and investor who applies one system, the Locus Model, across biotechnology, finance, and economics.
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copyright year: 2026
about: Rory Riggs

Syntax Data (Syntax LLC / Locus Analytics)
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occupation-syntax-data-syntax-llc-locus-analytics-executive-chai-7ec1f0-role
type: Role
has occupation: Executive Chairman / Founder
start date: 2009
role name: Executive Chairman / Founder at Syntax Data (Syntax LLC / Locus Analytics)

Executive Chairman / Founder
type: Occupation
description: Founded Locus Analytics in 2009 as an economic research firm to pioneer Systems Economics and develop and patent the Functional Information System. Syntax and Locus Analytics merged in March 2023. Built the coordinate-based Locus Model and FIS information infrastructure for finance and economic data, and the Syntax Stratified Indices.

occupation-cibus-global-ltd-chairman-of-the-board-role
type: Role
has occupation: Chairman of the Board
start date: 2026-06
role name: Chairman of the Board at Cibus Global, Ltd.

Chairman of the Board
type: Occupation
description: Transitioned from Chief Executive Officer to Chairman of the Board in June 2026 as Craig Wichner became CEO.

occupation-cibus-global-ltd-chief-executive-officer-role
type: Role
has occupation: Chief Executive Officer
start date: 2021-10-07
end date: 2026-06
role name: Chief Executive Officer at Cibus Global, Ltd.

Chief Executive Officer
type: Occupation
description: Co-founder and CEO of Cibus, the leading precision gene-editing company for agriculture. Applied the Locus Model's functional-systems approach to plant biology through the Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS).

occupation-webs-etf-trust-syntax-etf-trust-ceo-and-trustee-role
type: Role
has occupation: CEO and Trustee
start date: 2017
role name: CEO and Trustee at WEBS ETF Trust (Syntax ETF Trust)

CEO and Trustee
type: Occupation
description: CEO and Trustee of the Syntax-affiliated ETF trust since 2017.

General Partner / Co-Founder
type: Occupation
description: General Partner and co-founder of Scientia Ventures.

Managing Member
type: Occupation
description: Managing Member of Balfour Venture Partners.

occupation-royalty-pharma-plc-chairman-and-founder-role
type: Role
has occupation: Chairman and Founder
start date: 1996
end date: 2024-06-06
role name: Chairman and Founder at Royalty Pharma plc

Chairman and Founder
type: Occupation
description: Co-founded Royalty Pharma in 1996 with a $60 million start; built it into the world's largest acquirer of pharmaceutical royalties, holding partial royalty rights on seven of the top thirty drugs sold in the United States. Served as Chairman from 2003 and resigned as a director on June 6, 2024.

occupation-biomatrix-inc-president-cfo-and-director-role
type: Role
has occupation: President, CFO, and Director
start date: 1996
end date: 2000
role name: President, CFO, and Director at BioMatrix Inc.

President, CFO, and Director
type: Occupation
description: President, CFO, and Director of BioMatrix (NYSE: BMX), overseeing the launch of Synvisc, a viscosupplementation treatment.

occupation-rfp-corporation-chief-executive-officer-role
type: Role
has occupation: Chief Executive Officer
start date: 1991
end date: 1995
role name: Chief Executive Officer at RF&P Corporation

Chief Executive Officer
type: Occupation
description: CEO of RF&P, a real estate investment company owned by the Virginia State Retirement System.
occupation location: Virginia, United States

Virginia, United States
type: Place

occupation-painewebber-inc-managing-director-mergers-acquisitions-role
type: Role
has occupation: Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions
start date: 1981
end date: 1990
role name: Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions at PaineWebber Inc.

Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions
type: Occupation
description: Managing Director in the mergers and acquisitions group at PaineWebber.

Chair
type: Occupation
description: Chair of eReceivables, a healthcare service technology company.

Chairman
type: Occupation
description: Chairman of Nucelis Inc.

Middlebury College
type: CollegeOrUniversity

Columbia University
type: CollegeOrUniversity

BA in Economics, Mathematics
type: EducationalOccupationalCredential
credential category: degree
recognized by: Middlebury College

MBA
type: EducationalOccupationalCredential
credential category: degree
recognized by: Columbia University

Functional classification systems
type: DefinedTerm
description: Inventor of the coordinate-based Locus Model and Functional Information System for classifying economic activity by function rather than conventional industry category.
term code: thought leader

Pharmaceutical royalty finance
type: DefinedTerm
description: Founded and built Royalty Pharma into the world's largest acquirer of pharmaceutical royalties, helping create the category as an investable asset class.
term code: expert

Precision gene editing / agricultural biotechnology
type: DefinedTerm
description: Led Cibus's application of production-system methodology to plant biology through the Rapid Trait Development System.
term code: expert

Index construction and portfolio classification
type: DefinedTerm
description: Built the Syntax Stratified Indices, benchmark indices constructed on functional rather than conventional sector classification.
term code: expert

Mergers and acquisitions
type: DefinedTerm
description: Managing Director in M&A at PaineWebber, 1981–1990.
term code: expert

org-new-york-genome-center-affiliation
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affiliation: New York Genome Center
role name: Board Member
description: Director of the New York Genome Center, his primary current nonprofit board.

New York Genome Center
type: Organization

org-feinstein-institute-northwell-health-affiliation
type: OrganizationRole
affiliation: Feinstein Institute (Northwell Health)
role name: Director
description: Director of the Feinstein Institute, the research arm of Northwell Health.

Feinstein Institute (Northwell Health)
type: Organization

org-kyntra-bio-formerly-known-as-fibrogen-inc-affiliation
type: OrganizationRole
affiliation: Kyntra Bio (formerly known as FibroGen Inc.)
role name: Co-Founder and Director
start date: 1993-10
description: Co-founder and director of FibroGen since October 1993 — his longest confirmed board tenure.

Kyntra Bio (formerly known as FibroGen Inc.)
type: Organization

org-intra-cellular-therapies-inc-affiliation
type: OrganizationRole
affiliation: Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc.
role name: Director, Audit Committee
start date: 2014-01
end date: 2025
description: Director of Intra-Cellular Therapies from January 2014, serving on the Audit Committee.

Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc.
type: Organization

org-sugen-inc-affiliation
type: OrganizationRole
affiliation: SUGEN Inc.
role name: Co-Founder and Board Member
description: Co-founder and board member of SUGEN.

SUGEN Inc.
type: Organization

org-genenews-stagezero-life-sciences-affiliation
type: OrganizationRole
affiliation: GeneNews / StageZero Life Sciences
role name: Board Chair / Director
start date: 1998
description: Board Chair and director of GeneNews, later StageZero Life Sciences, since 1998.

GeneNews / StageZero Life Sciences
type: Organization

org-nuredis-inc-affiliation
type: OrganizationRole
affiliation: Nuredis Inc.
role name: Director
description: Director of Nuredis Inc.

Nuredis Inc.
type: Organization

org-bond-street-marketplace-affiliation
type: OrganizationRole
affiliation: Bond Street Marketplace
role name: Angel Investor / Board Member
description: Angel investor and board member of the fintech company Bond Street Marketplace.

Bond Street Marketplace
type: Organization

Syntax Data (Syntax LLC / Locus Analytics)
type: Person
description: Founder and Executive Chairman; built the Locus Model, Functional Information System, and Syntax Stratified Indices.

Royalty Pharma plc
type: Person
description: Co-founder and Chairman (2003–2024); built the pharmaceutical royalty asset class.

Cibus Inc.
type: Person
description: Co-founder; CEO 2021–2026, then Chairman of the Board.

FibroGen Inc.
type: Person
description: Co-founder and director since October 1993.

SUGEN Inc.
type: Person
description: Co-founder and board member.

BioMatrix Inc.
type: Person
description: President, CFO, and Director, 1996–2000; oversaw the launch of Synvisc.

Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc.
type: Person
description: Director, 2014–2025.

New York Genome Center
type: Person
description: Current director.

Feinstein Institute (Northwell Health)
type: Person
description: Current director of the research arm of Northwell Health.

Scientia Ventures LLC
type: Person
description: General Partner and co-founder.

PaineWebber Inc.
type: Person
description: Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions, 1981–1990.

RF&P Corporation
type: Person
description: CEO, 1991–1995, a Virginia State Retirement System–owned real estate investment company.

Middlebury College
type: Person
description: Undergraduate alma mater (BA).

Columbia University
type: Person
description: Graduate alma mater (MBA).

Cibus Appoints Co-Founder Rory Riggs as Chief Executive Officer
type: NewsArticle

Syntax LLC Announces Launch of Stratified LargeCap ESG Index
type: NewsArticle

Cibus Opens Gene Editing Facility for Trait Production
type: NewsArticle

Cibus Closes Calyxt Deal
type: NewsArticle

Cibus Named to Fast Company's Annual List of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024
type: NewsArticle

Cibus Names Agricultural Biotechnology Leader Craig Wichner as Chief Executive Officer
type: NewsArticle

Royalty Pharma Co-Founder Writes Open Letter to Board of Elan Ahead of EGM
type: NewsArticle

Regarding Cloe
type: NewsArticle

Margaret Crotty and Rory Riggs Health Care Leadership Award, 2024
type: NewsArticle

Rory Riggs
type: Organization

Pensions & Investments
type: Organization

Home
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position: 1
item: https://theroryriggs.com

Systems Economics - Rory Riggs
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position: 2
item: https://theroryriggs.com/systems-economics

The Coordinate System - Rory Riggs
type: ListItem
position: 3
item: https://theroryriggs.com/coordinate-system

Rory Riggs
type: WebSite
description: The personal site of Rory Riggs — inventor of the Locus Model and Functional Coordinates, founder of Systems Economics, and Executive Chairman of Syntax Data. Documents his work across financial classification (FIS, Syntax Stratified Indices), agricultural biotechnology (Cibus, Rapid Trait Development System), and pharmaceutical royalties (Royalty Pharma).
language: en
publisher: Rory Riggs

Commentary: Systems Economics — A New Prescription for Risk Management
type: Article
type: LearningResource
name: Systems Economics: A New Prescription for Risk Management
main entity of page: The Coordinate System - Rory Riggs
is part of: Rory Riggs
description: Op-ed authored by Rory Riggs articulating the case for functional, systems-based classification of economic data as an alternative to conventional sector-based risk models.
abstract: Op-ed authored by Rory Riggs articulating the case for functional, systems-based classification of economic data as an alternative to conventional sector-based risk models.
date published: 2019-07-15T00:00:00+00:00
publisher: Pensions & Investments
author: Rory Riggs