瑞士洛桑聯邦高等理工學院的Michael Graetze是一位科學家和光子學教授。對于世界其他地方而言，他是“依爾格萊策爾電池的發明者，”――該電池更出名的名字是dye-sensitize太陽能電池。 DSSCs是太陽系中第三代領導集體的創新，具有低成本，易生產，薄，靈活等特點。
    千年技術獎每隔兩年會授予“具體的，突破性的創新技術，對生命和人類福祉的質量產生有利影響的發明創造。”顯然芬蘭科學院認為，將來Graetzel電池會發揮重要作用的一太陽能技術，以及太陽能發電和能源消費都會受到影響。
正如太陽能研究和開發一樣，太陽能電池第一線必須實現同行轉換，當今太陽能行業已商業化。

    At École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, Michael Graetzel is a scientist and professor of photonics and interfaces. To the rest of the world, he is the inventor of “Graetzel Cells,” better known as dye-sensitized solar cells. DSSCs are leaders among third generation solar innovations. They are low-cost, easy to produce, thin and flexible if need be.

    The Millennium Technologies Prize is awarded every two years for a “specific and groundbreaking innovation that has a favorable impact on the quality of life and human well-being.” The Finnish academy obviously believes that Graetzel cells will play a major role in the future of solar technology, as well as energy generation and consumption.

    Like its peers on the front lines of solar research and development, the Graetzel solar cell must achieve commercialization with conversion efficiencies rivaling today’s solar industry leaders (10-percent efficiency has been reached in the laboratory). Professor Graetzel’s million-plus dollar Millennium Prize at least ensures his research will not end anytime soon.