7.6.2010
PROFESSOR FRIEND IS THE MILLENNIUM PEOPLE’S CHOICE 2010
Professor Sir Richard Friend, developer of plastic electronics, was voted the Millennium People’s Choice 2010 in a poll organised by Technology Academy Finland. The online survey was part of the build up to the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize, awarded to humane technologies.
The general public would have given the EUR 800,000 Millennium Technology Grand Prize to the developer of plastic electronics, Professor Sir Richard Friend. This was revealed by a poll organised in May on the Millennium website, where people were asked to vote for their favourite of the 2010 Laureates. The poll closed on 28 May.
”Friend’s innovation makes possible a number of energy-efficient, low-cost and durable electronic devices. What might explain his success in the poll is that most people dream of more durable and more convenient electronics. Friend’s innovation promises great applications: A laptop made of plastic or rubber would be virtually unbreakable. In the future, it might even be possible to fabricate organic led paint and then use it to transform a whole wall into a lamp or a display,” describes Dr Ainomaija Haarla, President and CEO of Technology Academy Finland.
Professor Friend took the People’s Choice title with 48 % of votes. In the second place was the inventor of the ARM microprocessor, Professor Stephen Furber with 27 % and in third place the developer of dye-sensitized solar cells, Professor Michael Grätzel with 25 % of votes. Furber and Grätzel were quite well-matched but Friend was clearly in the lead from the beginning.
The Millennium People’s Choice 2010 was announced today at an international press conference at the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki, and the winner was given a special certificate of honour.
It remains to be seen whether or not the public choice is also the actual Winner of the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize. The identity of the Winner will be announced on Wednesday 9 June, when the President of the Republic of Finland presents the prizes to the Laureates at a festive Award Ceremony in the Finnish National Opera.
Join the debate on the Millennium Facebook page
Become a supporter of the Millennium Technology Prize on Facebook and give us your opinion: 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, emilia.erkinheimo (at) technologyacademy.fi
