Technology, AI & the Future of Innovation
can we make a meaningful difference, and when collaboration works well, that difference can be truly significant. International innovation awards play an important role in enabling this. They bring together people from different backgrounds around a shared purpose, while also raising awareness of the importance of science and collaboration in addressing global challenges. Through awarding brilliant and passionate innovators, we give them a platform and empower them to advocate for scientific and research-based knowledge when, for instance, speaking to policy makers. We have concrete examples of this effect: Martin Green, winner of the 2022 Millennium Technology Prize, has spoken about the award being a significant factor in helping him to connect with the Australian government in discussions on renewable energy. In a similar vein, Frances Arnold was appointed to Joe Biden’s Advisory Council on Science and Technology following her receiving the 2016 Millennium Technology Prize and the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. At the same time, these role models inspire the next generation. They show young scientists and innovators that truly world-changing breakthroughs are possible — and worth striving for. Kamil: What advice would you give to young scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs who dream of creating technologies that could improve life on a global scale? Maija: Our Millennium Technology Prize winners have shared insights that are essential for anyone aiming to create breakthrough technologies with global impact. As Sir David Klenerman, the 2020 Millennium Technology Prize winner, has said: “If you are at the frontier, you need to expect a lot of failures.” Failure is not the opposite of success — it is evidence that you are working where knowledge does not yet exist, so do not be afraid of it. Many of our winners were told that what they were trying to achieve was impossible. That is why belief in your idea, combined with perseverance, is so critical — the determination to push through and prove what is possible. At the same time, science requires rigour: evidence matters, and peer review is fundamental. But impact does not come from excellence alone. It also requires staying true to your values and having the courage to make your work visible — to speak up about your ideas and your research, even when they are still evolving. In the end, creating global impact is not only about discovery, but about the persistence and courage to carry that discovery all the way into the world. Kamil: Do you think it is possible that in the future an AI system could be nominated for a major technology award after creating a breakthrough innovation that significantly changes the world? Maija: That is an excellent and very timely question. In recent years, many major awards have recognized breakthroughs related to AI, which highlights its growing importance. At the Millennium Technology Prize, however, we place strong emphasis on human achievement. We believe that the laureate should be an individual — a person with agency and responsibility — rather than an organization or a system. In that sense, AI itself would not be considered a recipient of the award. AI is, of course, an
increasingly powerful tool, and it will undoubtedly play a major role in future innovations. But behind every breakthrough, there are still people — with vision, creativity, and accountability — and it is this human contribution that we ultimately recognize. Kamil: When evaluating groundbreaking innovations, have you ever encountered a technology so powerful that it raised ethical concerns, making you wonder whether it should reach the wider public? How should society balance innovation with responsibility? Maija: At the Millennium Technology Prize, the evaluation is carried out by an independent International Selection Committee, with members of various fields of science, not by the office. The process is guided by clear criteria, where ethical considerations are an integral part of the assessment. This means that technologies with significant ethical concerns or potential negative impacts are reflected accordingly in the evaluation and are valued lower. Responsibility is therefore not separate from innovation—it is embedded in how we define truly groundbreaking work. More broadly, I believe society must balance innovation with responsibility by ensuring that progress is guided by shared values, transparency, and long-term thinking. The most impactful technologies are those that advance science while also contributing positively to humanity and the planet. “ Leadership begins with curiosity — not only towards science and technology, but equally towards people and cultures. ”
MAIJA LIIRI CEO, Technology Academy Finland Advancing the Millennium Technology Prize www.linkedin.com/in/maijal
DAVOS CLUB 13
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