Top scientists for Millennium Award
Three scientists have been shortlisted for the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize, the world's largest award for technological innovation. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Helsinki, Finland on 9 June 2010.
The laureates announced in Helsinki today by Technology Academy Finland are:
Professor Sir Richard Friend, Cavendish Professor of Physics, University of Cambridge, UK.
Professor Friend's work in plastic electronics has revolutionized the field of optoelectronics, with far-reaching consequences for energy efficient applications in display devices, lighting, sensing and solar energy harvesting. His initial innovation included producing organic light emitting diodes and his use of polymers as solution processed semiconductors has enabled products such as electronic paper, cheap organic solar cells and illuminating wall papers.
Professor Stephen Furber, Professor of Computer Engineering, the University of Manchester, UK.
Professor Furber is the principal designer of the ARM 32 bit RISC microprocessor, found in most handheld electronic devices and in more than 98 % of the world's mobile phones. The development of the fast, energy efficient 32 bit processor 25 years ago unlocked the world of consumer electronics and to date, more than 18 billion ARM-based chips have been manufactured for use in ubiquitous computing applications, such as mobile phones, digital photography and video, music players, fixed and wireless networking, automobiles and health care, benefiting hundreds of millions worldwide.
Professor Michael Grätzel, Director of the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces, Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland.
Professor Grätzel is the father of third generation dye-sensitized solar cells, known as "Grätzel cells". These relatively low cost/high performance solar cells offer much promise in the search for affordable, renewable energy technologies. Consumer applications made possible by their development include electricity-generating windows and low-cost, mobile solar panels. The concepts behind Grätzel cells can also be applied in the production of hydrogen and batteries, both important components of future energy needs.
