Nominations for candidates for the world's biggest technology prize are now being accepted. The award ceremony for 2008 will also include publicity for a selection of the technological innovations that are improving living conditions.

The Millennium Prize, which is worth one million euros, is awarded for a technological invention that improves the quality of life and promotes sustainable development. Candidates are sought from all areas of technology all over the world. The aim is to direct technological development in a human direction.

The last date for entries is 1 October 2007. The final list will be announced in April 2008. The winner will receive the prize in Helsinki at a ceremony to be held on 11 June, 2008, where other finalists will also receive their prize.

Candidates for the prize can be nominated by academies, universities, research institutes and high-tech companies and organizations. A nominated candidate may be either a research and development team or an individual person.

The Millennium Prize is awarded every other year. The first time it was awarded was in June 2004 when it went to Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web. Two years later the winner was Shuji Nakamura, who invented a new energy-efficient light source.

>> www.millenniumprize.fi

Besides one million euros, the winner of the Millennium Technology Prize is also presented with "Huippu" (The Top), a work of art designed by sculptor Helena Hietanen.