The Message of the President of the Republic of Finland

Technology plays an inseparable role in our modern lives. Technological innovations have reduced inequality, improved our environment, and accelerated sustainable development.

In meeting the challenges of the future we will need new technologies that are not yet born. New technologies are essential in the search for solutions to global problems such as achieving sustainable energy supplies, the availability of clean water, control of climate change and a number of health related
issues. These solutions touch every one of us.

It is in this spirit that the Millennium Technology Prize is awarded every second year - to inspire and recognize innovations that can provide answers to the challenges of our time, promoting both the quality of human life and sustainable development.

The prize has now been awarded three times. The recipients, Tim Berners-Lee, in 2004, Shuji Nakamura, in 2006, and Robert Langer, in 2008, are excellent crystallizations of the purpose of the award. Their inventions, the World Wide Web, energy-efficient new light source blue LED, and advanced drug delivery systems, have significant potential for beneficial influence on the lives of billions of people.

Finland is a world-leading high-tech country, where more than one fifth of our national exports consist of high-tech products. Our skills, know-how and standard of living lie in Finland's top-level education, and our exceptional research and innovation systems.

Tarja Halonen
President of the Republic of Finland

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