Santa Clara University

United Nations Partnership

The United Nations' Secretary-General's Office has extended support and encouragement to the Awards program. The United Nations Development Programme assists with the global outreach of the Awards. Through their partnership, the UNDP helps identify nominees within their network of 166 countries and disseminates the Awards results, allowing people around the world to benefit.  The American Council for the United Nations University (ACUNU) communicates through its international network to disseminate information about the Awards. The concept for the Awards and the five universal categories were inspired in part by the ACUNU's Millennium Project State of the Future report. The report recommends that award recognition is an effective way to accelerate scientific breakthrough and technological applications to improve the human condition.

Kofi A. Annan, UN Secretary-General

"One of the most pressing challenges of the new century is to harness the extraordinary force of technological innovation, spread it throughout the world, and make its benefits accessible and meaningful for all humanity... the true winners of these Awards are the many people who stand to benefit from the innovations the Awards are intended to recognize." Kofi A. Annan Secretary-General United Nations