Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Honored by NEC C&C Foundation
Torvalds to receive one of the world’s most prestigious awards for contributions to computer technologies and their social impact
SAN FRANCISCO, October 20, 2010 – The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of Linux, today announced that Linux creator and Linux Foundation Fellow Linus Torvalds is one of three recipients to receive the prestigious C&C Prize in 2010.
Torvalds is being recognized for his “contributions to the advancement of the information technology industry, education, research, and the improvement of our lives,” according to NEC C&C Foundation.
Torvalds developed Linux in 1991 while a student at the University of Helsinki in Finland. He released the operating system (OS) under the General Public License and invited others to use it and share. Today, Linux is the leading OS for smartphones and is powering next-generation mobile computing devices. It has drastically reduced the cost for developing countries that want to put computing devices in the hands of students and citizens. Linux is also preferred among the world’s largest enterprises to support critical IT infrastructure.
“Linux is the fabric of computing today, and Linus Torvalds represents one of the strongest technologies to emerge over the last century,” said Jim Zemlin, executive director at The Linux Foundation. “Linus’ sustained commitment to Linux and his contributions to technology innovation are valued more than ever.”
The C&C Prize was established in 1985 and is awarded to distinguished persons in recognition of outstanding contributions to R&D activities and pioneering work related to the integration of computers and communications technologies and the social impact of developments in these fields. This year’s other recipients include Dr. Hiroyuki Sakaki and Dr. Yasuhiko Arakawa. Dr. Kuninori Uesugi and Dr. Jun’ichiro Kawaguchi are also being recognized as the NEC C&C’s 25th Anniversary Memorial Award recipients. More information on this year’s winners can be found here: http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/1010/1902.html.
Previous winners of the C&C Prize include Tim Berners-Lee, the professor credited with inventing the World Wide Web and today is director at Worldwide Web Consortium; Sidney Metzger, who was chief scientist of the Comsat Corporation and led efforts to define the characteristics of the early Intelsat satellites and the Standard A and B earth stations; and Dr. Gordon E. Moore, the co-founder of Intel and author of Moore’s Law, among others. A full list of past recipients is available online: http://www.candc.or.jp/en/recipient.html.
The award will be presented and acceptance speeches given on November 24, 2010 in Tokyo at a special prize ceremony.
About the NEC C&C Foundation
The NEC C&C Foundation is a non-profit organization established in March 1985 to foster further growth in the electronics industry by encouraging and supporting research and development activities and pioneering work related to the integration of computers and communications technologies, that is, C&C, and ultimately to contribute to the world economy and the enrichment of human life. The Foundation is funded by NEC Corporation.
The Foundation currently has two main activities. It presents the annual C&C Prizes to recognize outstanding contributions to R&D activities and pioneering work in the area of C&C. Candidates are recommended from all over the world. Each prize winner receives a certificate, a plaque, and a cash award (ten million yen per group). As of 2010, 85 prominent persons had received the prize. In addition, an Outstanding Paper Award for Young C&C Researchers is awarded annually to one outstanding paper presented at an international conference overseas with the support of a grant from the Foundation. The recipient is given a cash award of 200,000 yen.
The Foundation also gives the following three grants: (1) grant to enable researchers in Japan to attend international conferences overseas to make presentations in the field of C&C, (2) grant to non-Japanese researchers in Japan, (3) grant to students proceeding to doctoral courses.
For additional information, please visit the NEC C&C Foundation website at: http://www.candc.or.jp/
About The Linux Foundation
The Linux Foundation is a nonprofit consortium dedicated to fostering the growth of Linux. Founded in 2007, the Linux Foundation sponsors the work of Linux creator Linus Torvalds and is supported by leading Linux and open source companies and developers from around the world. The Linux Foundation promotes, protects and standardizes Linux by hosting important workgroups, events such as LinuxCon, and online resources such as Linux.com. For more information, please visit www.linuxfoundation.org or follow the organization on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/linuxfoundation.
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Trademarks: The Linux Foundation, Linux Standard Base and MeeGo are trademarks of The Linux Foundation. Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds.