A low-cost solar cell that imitates photosynthesis opens up new applications for photovoltaics.

As an ever increasing number of people around the world become connected by mobile communications networks [the number of cell phone subscribers is set to reach 5 billion in 2010] the challenges to providing electricity to these expanding networks are becoming greater as well. In particular, developing countries are seeing unprecedented growth in wireless subscribers. However, many of the base stations in these areas are in remote locations that have limited or no access to grid power.

Few businessmen, entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists outside of Finland will have heard of Tekes.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a new homeowner in possession of a good lawn must be in want of a lawn mower. Unless you have access to a herd of goats, or you're an aggressive gardener with immediate plans to xeriscape or cover all terrain with edible plants.

Focusing on the problems that could crop in as emerging economies become a part of the REACH regulation, the second global Helsinki Chemicals Forum (HCF), which followed after ECHA’s fourth stakeholder's day, discussed the problems and worked out solutions to make REACH reach and accessible to the world. Arshiya Khan reports

A legjelentősebb és legnagyobb pénzösszeggel díjazott nemzetközi technológiai és innovációs elismerésének, a Millenniumi Technológiai Díjnak az átadásához kapcsolódva a világ minden pontjáról harminc kiemelkedően tehetséges diákot hívtak meg Helsinkibe, hogy részt vegyenek a Millenniumi Ifjúsági Táborban június 6 -13. között.

Carbon neutrality is a simple concept - but one enmeshed in highly complex detail. It implies that a city should move away from using fossil fuels and reduce its waste outputs to near zero.

Helsinki -- Later this week, the first servers in an experimental data center here that proponents say will be the world's most energy efficient will go into their racks -- and bigger plans are on the way.

You have to get up pretty early in the morning to beat dawn’s early light in Finland’s summer. About 1.30 AM during the week I was there. But all winter the only light you see is electric. Perhaps that is why the green tech sector in Finland is so focused on wringing every last bit of efficiency out of energy sources. The government funds the most R&D in the world, and the Finns are great at Smart Grid technology innovation.

“Wear underwear over your eyes,” suggested Michael Kanellos’ daughter. Kanellos from Greentech Media is one of the sleep-deprived bloggers Green Prophet is with on a clean tech tour of Finland –– along with other green writers and reporters from sites like TreeHugger and Grist.

Reporter's Notebook, Helsinki -- The Midnight Sun. That's not just an expression, I've learned.

This week, I'm in Finland talking to entrepreneurs, engineers and government officials about the country's attempt to build its green industry. Although a relatively small country in terms of population, the emphasis the nation has placed on energy efficiency over the last several decades has made it something of a living lab on the subject.

Jedenkrát za dva roky vyhodnocuje mezinárodní komise vědecké práce, které zásadní způsobem přispívají ke zlepšení kvality života našich současníků i budoucích generací. Věrni svému postavení nejštědřejších donátorů vědy, výzkumu a inovací Finové dotují cenu Millennium Technology Prize za nejlepší práce v oblasti technologických inovací z celého světa celkovou sumou 800 000 eur. Udílení cen se konalo v Helsinkách v rámci tzv. Millennium Technology Week (7.–10. června 2010) v gesci Finské technologické akademie (TAF).

HELSINKI] A flexible solar cell that could provide cheap energy for everyone has been awarded a prize worth €800,000 million (US$970,000).

The world’s richest science and technology award, the Millennium Technology Prize, has been presented to German photonics expert Prof Michael Grätzel, developer of the dye-sensitised solar cell, which works by mimicking photosynthesis.

E ora con l'aiuto del sole vincerò. Nei cartoni animati della nostra infanzia Daitarn 3 sgominava così le forze del male. Nel 2010 questo motto invece è realtà e fa vincere il Millenium Technology Prize a Michael Grätzel, direttore dell'Ecole Poltechninique Federalee di Losanna.

[HELSINKI] A flexible solar cell that could provide cheap energy for everyone has been awarded a prize worth €800,000 million (US$970,000).

В столице Финляндии прошел второй Хельсинкский химический форум, на котором собралось более 200 участников из 30 стран. Приехали представители компаний, госструктур, научного сообщества.

The second global Helsinki Chemicals Forum, or HCF, kicked off Thursday, gathering 200 industry professionals from 30 countries in the Finnish capital.

Chemie: Teile der EU-Chemikalienverordnung Reach können sich bald weltweit wiederfinden. Die Industrie hofft auf eine Harmonisierung der vielen nationalen Chemikaliengesetze. Dabei sind noch viele Fragen der Umsetzung von Reach offen, wie sich auf einer Veranstaltung der EU-Chemikalienagentur Echa zeigte.

A European Community regulation on chemicals and their safe use could become an important element of global law in the next 10 years, the executive director of the European Chemicals Agency, or ECHA, said Thursday.

THE European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and Environment Canada are to sign an accord to collaborate and share information regarding chemicals regulation.

Elementari e medie unificate. Scuole aperte tutto il giorno. Insegnanti selezionati. Viaggio nel sistema di istruzione finlandese. Sempre in cima alle classifiche europee sui rendimenti.

De Finse hoofdstad Helsinki kampte in februari 2010 met de ijzigste winter sinds 1982. De buitentemperatuur bedroeg er geregeld -14 °C en kouder. Maar dat is niet ongewoon, winterpieken van -30°C zijn er geen verrassing. De meeste woningen hebben er geen eigen boiler. In plaats daarvan zijn ze aangesloten op een collectief verwarmingssysteem, 'district heating'.

PechaKucha in giapponese è come dire bla-bla, ma da Tokio a Helsinki è ormai il sinonimo di presentazione creativa. E' cominciata con i designer ai quali si chiedeva di presentare al pubblico 20 immagini esposte per 20 secondi l'una. Un tempo sufficiente per dire delle cose, ma possibilmente non abbastanza per annoiare. All'ultimo Designweek di Helsinki, capitale del Design 2012, hanno cominciato a farlo anche gli scienziati.

Il Wooden Design Hotel è un autentico esempio di tutto ciò che si può fare in architettura con il legno, attraverso un sapiente gioco di forme organiche, materiali naturali, impiego della luce e tecniche costruttive all’avanguardia. L’originale struttura, un vero e proprio hotel temporaneo per l’estate, è stata realizzata nell’isola di Valkosaari a sud del porto di Helsinki. Un luogo indubbiamente esclusivo, per pochi fortunati, dove potersi rifugiare in totale relax tra mare e cielo, immersi nella bellezza della natura finlandese.

Outside, the temperature is a bone-chilling minus 14C and Helsinki is struggling with its iciest winter since 1982, but deep inside a former bomb shelter carved from the bedrock beneath an Orthodox cathedral, the city’s power company is building what will soon be the world’s most high-tech municipal heating system.

As Turkey debates the benefits of hydropower, Pöyry, a Finnish expert in consulting and engineering, signs a contract for the development of hydroplants on the main branch of the Euphrates. Pöyry is committed to being a global thought leader in engineering-balanced sustainability by 2020, says Vilho Salovaara of Pöyry's Energy business group

En un sector liderado por las grandes compañías, la petrolera finlandesa Neste Oil ha conseguido hacerse con el liderazgo en el campo de los bio-combustibles. Además de suponer un reto ambiental, la decisión de centrarse en este tipo de carburantes ha centrado todas las acciones de la compañía en la última década. Desde la dirección la idea es clara: "Los combustibles renovables están aquí para quedarse." Y de momento Neste Oil ha sido quien mejor ha sabido verlo.