Millennium Technology Prize awarded to Prof. Shuji Nakamura
The world’s largest technology prize, the Millennium Technology Prize, has this year been awarded to the Japanese researcher, Prof. Shuji Nakamura, in recognition of his contribution towards the development of a revolutionary, energy-saving light source. The innovation is anticipated to have an impact on the quality of life in both the industrialising and industrialised worlds through its application in the sterilisation of water, energy and environmental conservation, as well as improved data storage and transfer capacity in information and communication technologies. The Millennium Technology Prize, spearheaded by the Finnish public and private sectors, recognises global efforts in the development of humane technologies. Prof. Nakamura, originally from Shikoku, is currently based at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His win is seen as a boost for scientific cooperation between Japan, Finland and the United States.
Academy of Finland Magazine Special Issue on Research Collaboration with Japan
The latest issue of the Academy of Finland’s English-language magazine, ProAcademia, reports on the Academy’s research collaboration with Japan. The Academy President, Raimo Väyrynen, highlights the importance of Japan as a scientific partner, saying that “Japan continues to be a major power in science and technology…There are many similarities in the Finnish and Japanese R&D profiles…For instance, in Japan as in Finland, business companies account for a sizeable share of the entire R&D expenditure, some two-thirds of it, while the rest of the money is spent by public funding agencies and universities. In the government sector, both countries spend very little on military R&D, and favour civilian research instead”.
According to President Väyrynen, scientific cooperation between Japan and Finland is a good example of how mutually rewarding interaction can occur across different national and cultural backgrounds.
Academy of Finland’s Research Funding Nearly 220 Million Euros in 2005
Basic research in Finland received 218.7 million euros from the Academy of Finland in 2005. General research funding was the single biggest category of Academy funding, amounting to 40.8 million euros (19%) of the total. Research training received 17% of the total, while 13% was allocated to supporting international cooperation and 8% to specific research programmes. The centre of excellence –programmes received 27.9 million euros. Support for high-level Finnish research was also provided in the form of 286 Academy Professor and Academy Research Fellow posts.
Molecular Medicine Research Centre for the University of Helsinki
A new research centre for molecular medicine, genetics and epidemiology is to be established at the University of Helsinki. While based at the University of Helsinki, the new centre will actively collaborate with other Finnish biocentres – including Biocity Turku, the Turku Centre for Biotechnology, Biocentrum Helsinki, the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Helsinki, Biocentre Oulu, the Institute of Medical technology at the Univeristy of Tampere, and the A.I. Virtanen Institute at the University of Kuopio – thereby further enforcing the development of Finnish biosciences expertise.
Academy of Finland to Prepare Research and Activity Programme on Cooperation with Asia
A working group for the Finnish Ministry of Education has drafted an action programme on cooperation with Asian countries. The programme seeks to capitalize on the potential of rapidly developing Asian countries by promoting collaborations between Finnish and Asian universities, research institutes, and cultural and other actors. According to the working group, existing linkages to Asian countries should also be strengthened. The working group proposes that the volume of high-level bilateral partnerships with Asian universities be increased in order to intensify student, teacher and researcher mobility. Additional emphasis should be placed on improving collaboration between Finnish and Asian research funding organizations. The Academy of Finland is also encouraged to draft a research and activity programme for 2007 to support internationalization of Finnish research towards Asia.
Finnish Ministry of Education operating and financial plan 2007-2011 underlines biotechnology, nanotechnology, and communications and infomation technology research.
The science policy objectives set by the Ministry of Education's recent operation and financial plan for 2007-2011 include strengthening the quality and international exposure of Finnish science and research and increasing the societal and economic utilisation of scientific research in cooperation with various other sectors and actors.
