Millennium Prize

What is the Millennium Technology Prize?

The Millennium Technology Prize is Finland's tribute to life-enhancing technological innovation. As the world's largest technology award, the prize celebrates innovations that have a favourable impact on quality of life and wellbeing. In particular, it seeks to highlight innovations that assist and enrich people's everyday lives today as well as in the future. Conferred by Technology Academy Finland, an independent fund established by Finnish industry and the Finnish state in partnership, the Millennium Technology Prize is awarded every second year.

Who has won the Millennium Technology Prize?

The inaugural Millennium Technology Prize was presented to Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, in 2004.

The 2006 Millennium Technology Prize Winner was Professor Shuji Nakamura, inventor of new revolutionary light sources.

The 2008 Millennium Technology Prize Winner was Professor Robert Langer for his invention and development of innovative biomaterials for controlled drug release and tissue regeneration. Other Laureates for the 2008 Prize were Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, Dr. Andrew J. Viterbi and Professor Emmanuel Desurvire, Dr. Randy Giles and Professor David N. Payne.

How can one be nominated for the Millennium Technology Prize?

Nominations can be made by academies, universities, research institutions and industrial communities around the world. Self-nominations are not accepted. The Millennium Technology Prize can be awarded to one, two or three individuals who have independently contributed to an innovation, or to a research and development team. Candidates are sought from across the world and all fields of technology.

How does the selection process operate?

Based on the nominations received, the International Selection Committee recommends either three or four Laureate candidates to the Board of Technology Academy Finland. Once approved by The Board, the names of the Laureates are announced. The Selection Committee then prepares its recommendation for the ultimate Winner to the Board. After the name of the Winner has been announced, the prizes are presented to the Winner and the other Laureates at an award ceremony.

How is the significance of an innovation assessed during the selection process?

Each innovation's significance is assessed using the criteria established by Technology Academy Finland. The basic criteria are: 1) identification of the innovator, 2) the innovation's impact on quality of life and sustainable development now, and 3) in the future, and 4) the significance of the resulting technological change.

What is the Millennium Technology Prize worth?