The Finnish Millennium Technology Prize was handed over in the middle of June to Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the WorldWideWeb. The prize, which is called Finland's Nobel Prize, was being made for the first time.

Worth one million euros, the prize is the biggest technology award in the world. It will be made every other year for an innovation that brings a considerable improvement to people's quality of life.

According to the prize committee, Berners-Lee's innovation encapsulates the main idea behind making the award: www gives people a better opportunity to obtain information that is important for their own lives. It facilitates the construction of social networks and opens up new opportunities for business life.

The Finnish Technology Award Foundation will be taking suggestions for the winner in 2006 starting in January next year. The prize is funded by the State of Finland, Finnish industrial organizations and private companies.

>> www.technologyawards.org

Tarja Halonen, the President of Finland, hands over the Millennium Technology Prize to Tim Berners-Lee.