Nakamura wins Millennium Technology prize

The 2006 Millennium Technology Prize has gone to Professor Shuji Nakamura, best known for his ground-breaking work in enabling the production of LEDs.

Professor Nakamura, who works at the University of California at Santa Barbara, also won the $1.2m prize for developing a revolutionary source of light which has had a profound impact on light-producing semiconductor research and development.

Nakamura's work has enhanced data storage on formats such as DVDs and CDs as data transfer is performed using light generated by blue lasers.

The technology prize, which is awarded every second year for innovation that improves the quality of human life and well-being, will be presented to Professor Nakamura on 8 September in Helsinki.