Beijing Time June 9th Professor Michael Gratzel of the Lausanne Federal Technology Institute FLTE won this year's Millennium Technology Prize which is the world's biggest technology prize.
President of the Republic of Finland handed the EUR 800,000 Grand Prize and the prize trophy Peak to Professor Gratzel at the Grand Award Ceremony at the Finnish National Opera, Helsinki.
Prof. Gratzel, the father of third generation dye-sensitized solar cells , is also a distinguished honorary professor of HUST. HUST president Li Peigen sent him a letter of congratulation on June 11.
The Millennium Technology Prize is organized by the Finland Technology Academy which is a tribute to developers of life-enhancing technological innovations, awarded biannually. The total amount of the prizes is 1,1 million, of which, the main prize is 800,000, and the other Laureates will be awarded 150,000 each.
Prof. Gratzel, 66, is a professor of the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces at FLTE. He is a renowned scientist in the chemistry community, and was nominated by the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009. Through deep communication, he reached a consensus with Wuhan National Lab for Optoelectronics WNLO , deciding to launch the Michael Gratzel Center for Mesoscopic Solar Cells, based on dye-sensitized solar cell DSC research group at WNLO, to promote DSC's development in China.
He will be the honorary director of the Center. Yibing Cheng, Thousand-Talent Scheme winner, member of Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and professor of WNLO, acts as director of the Center. The Center is striving to attract top minds at home and abroad for extensive collaboration, in an attempt to develop low-cost solar cells and dedicate to R&D and application of renewable energy.
HUST president Li Peigen and Party Chief of WNLO Lin Lin paid a visit to Prof. Gratzel during their visit to Switzerland and appointed him HUST honorary professor in October 2009.
The inaugural ceremony of Michael Gratzel Center for Mesoscopic Solar Cells and the first DSC International Forum will be held on July 19, 2010. Over 10 international known scientists will be invited to give speeches. Prof. Gratzel will also attend the conference.
