Nakamura was chosen for his inventions on revolutionary new light sources, inexpensive energy and water purification, the Helsinki-based Millennium Prize Foundation said.

His inventions include a high brightness blue laser which have opened the way to a new generation of high capacity DVD players and recorders.
He is also responsible for other solid state light sources widely seen as the next big thing in lighting because they are sturdy, energy efficient and long lasting.

Japanese inventor Shuji Nakamura was named winner of the world’s biggest technology award.