Fifty five scientists compete for the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize

Fifty five scientists and 39 innovations from all fields of technology will vie for the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize. Every two years Finland’s Technology Academy Foundation awards a prize of over 1 million euros for a technological innovation that improves the quality of life.

The 2010 winner will be announced at a ceremony in June by the President of Finland and Patron of the Millennium Technology Prize, Tarja Halonen.

A shortlist of three or four innovations will be published in April.

Entries for the prize closed on 1st October. The US submitted six nominations, while the UK, Germany and Australia each have four innovations nominated.

"Interest in the Millennium Technology Prize has remained high," says the Technology Academy Foundation’s President and CEO Ainomaija Haarla. "Compared to previous years, we have received nominations from a wider geographical area and all fields of technology. The most important criterion to be considered by the International Selection Committee is the beneficial influence of each innovation on both the largest possible number of people and sustainable development."

The first Winner of the Millennium Technology Prize (2004) was Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web. In 2006, Shuji Nakamura, inventor of blue, green and white LEDS and the blue laser diode won the prize. The most recent winner was Robert Langer in 2008 for his innovative biomaterials used in controlled drug release and tissue regeneration.

Further information:  www.millenniumprize.fi(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)