1.6.2010
MILLENNIUM CAMPAIGN: ELECTRICITY IS THE GREATEST INNOVATION OF ALL TIME
Electricity was voted the greatest innovation of all time in a public poll by Technology Academy Finland. The online campaign was organised as part of the build up to the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize, awarded to humane technologies.
The public was asked to select the historical innovation which had most significantly improved the quality of life on our planet. According to the survey results released today, electricity has, by far, had the most profound impact on people’s lives.
The public voted a far newer innovation into second place: the Internet. Steam energy is third and the vaccination is in fourth place. Along with the Internet, the top 5 also features another communications technology: the printing press in fifth place. Both communications-related innovations have significantly changed people’s lives by bringing more and more information within their reach and thus strengthening democracy and empowerment.
A draw to win a Nokia Booklet 3G mini laptop was organised as part of the campaign. The winner will be contacted personally and their name will be published at www.millenniumprize.fi. The campaign website is www.millenniumprize.fi/quest.
Who is the Millennium People’s Choice 2010?
In May we also asked the general public which one of the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize Laureates should get the Grand Prize of EUR 800,000. The poll closed on Friday 28 May.
The Millennium People’s Choice 2010 will be published on Monday 7 June at an international press conference in Helsinki and on the website www.millenniumprize.fi.
Join the debate on the Millennium Facebook page
Become a supporter of the Millennium Technology Prize on Facebook and give us your opinion on the innovations: which one is your choice and why? And which one of the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize Laureates would you give the Grand Prize of EUR 800,000?
Further information:
Communications Officer Emilia Erkinheimo, Technology Academy Finland
Mobile +358 50 5877 144, email: firstname.lastname (at) technologyacademy.fi
The Millennium Technology Prize is Finland's tribute to developers of life-enhancing technological innovations, awarded biannually. In 2010 the total amount of the prizes is € 1,1 million of which €1m comes from the Finnish state and €100 o00 from Technology Academy Finland. The main prize is € 800,000, and the other Laureates will be awarded € 150,000 each. www.millenniumprize.fi
The prize is awarded by Technology Academy Finland, an independent fund established by Finnish organisations, industry and the Finnish state in a partnership which aims to promote applied technology and research which leads to new technologies that have a positive impact on the quality of life and are based on humane values. The organisation of Technology Academy Finland includes the Finnish Academy of Technical Sciences (TTA), Svenska tekniska vetenskapsakademien i Finland (STV), and the Industry Council, of which many Finnish industrial enterprises are members. www.technologyacademy.fi
