Millenium Technology Prize and Nobel Prize

mapkinase writes: This year Millennium Technology Prize was awarded to Prof. Nakamura for invention of white, blue and green light emitting diods (LED):

White LEDs could provide a sustainable, low-cost alternative to lightbulbs, especially in developing countries.

His other inventions such as blue LEDs are used in flat-screen displays, while blue lasers are already being exploited in the next generation of DVD player.

Later in the artcile:

The Millennium Technology Prize is the world's largest technology award, equivalent to the Nobel Prizes for science. It recognises technological developments that have a positive impact on quality of life and sustainable development.

It is awarded every two years. The first prize, awarded in 2004, was presented to Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web.

Good first two choices. Nowadays when there are fewer and fewer real developments of the real basic science, this prize would eventually eclipse the Nobel Prize in its coverage and popularity.

I hate the word "Millennium" though. 6 (or 5) years after this "historic" event the word have not became less pompous.