PATRON'S MESSAGE

The Message of the President of the Republic of Finland

Technology has an increasing significance for people today. Innovations affect our lives and the environment in many ways. Technological innovations have reduced inequality, provided solutions to everyday problems and improved ecological sustainability.

In meeting the challenges of the future, we will need new technologies. Innovations are not only achievements but they are also tools for realising the common goals of the humankind. The wellbeing of people goes hand in hand with the well-being of the nature.

New technologies are essential in addressing global problems, such as developing cleaner energy, mitigating climate change and finding answers to a number of health-related issues. These solutions touch every one of us.

Innovation needs encouragement and inspiration. In this spirit, the Millennium Technology Prize is awarded every second year – to celebrate and recognize innovations that contribute to human well-being and accelerate sustainable development.

The prize has now been awarded four times. The recipients, Tim Berners-Lee in 2004, Shuji Nakamura in 2006, Robert Langer in 2008 and Michael Grätzel in 2010, are excellent crystallizations of the purpose of the award. Their inventions, the World Wide Web, new energy-efficient light sources, innovative biomaterials for controlled drug release and dye-sensitized solar cells have significant potential for beneficial influence on quality of life of billions of people.

Finland is a world-leading high-tech country. Our skills, know-how and standard of living lie in Finland’s top-level education and our exceptional research and innovation systems. The Millennium Technology Prize is a Finnish tribute to developers of life-enhancing technological innovations.

Tarja Halonen
President of the Republic of Finland

The Millennium Technology Prize is under the patronage
of the President of Finland.