Dr. Richard Karp to Receive Inamori Foundation's 24th Annual Kyoto Prize for Lifetime Achievement in ``Advanced Technology''

KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Inamori Foundation (President: Dr. Kazuo Inamori) today announced that Dr. Richard Manning Karp will be among the 24^th annual laureates of its Kyoto Prize, an international award that honors significant contributions to the scientific, cultural and spiritual development of humanity.

“It is my hope that the Kyoto Prize will encourage balanced development of both our scientific progress and spiritual depth, and hence provide impetus toward the structuring of new philosophical paradigms”

This year will mark only the second time in the award’s 24-year history that all three recipients are North American residents, including the first Kyoto Prize laureates from Canada.

For 2008, the Kyoto Prize in “Advanced Technology” focuses on the field of Information Science. Dr. Karp, 73, will receive the award for his fundamental contributions to the theory of computational complexity, which he began developing in the early 1970s by establishing the theory of NP-completeness. In addition to creating many practical computer algorithms of his own, Dr. Karp’s work has exerted profound influence on the guiding principles behind the analysis and design of algorithms used in many scientific disciplines.

He serves as a professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences at University of California, Berkeley, and a senior research scientist at the International Computer Science Institute.

Dr. Karp’s theory of NP-completeness increased problem-solving efficiency by offering a standard method for measuring the computational complexity of combinatorial problems. His theory classifies problems according to their degree of difficulty, in which “Class P” represents problems for which polynomial-time algorithms of deterministic solutions exist; and “Class NP” represents problems for which polynomial-time algorithms of non-deterministic solutions exist, including the sub-class “NP-Complete” ― the hardest-to-solve problems. In deducing and disseminating a standard methodology for this process, he made dramatic advances in the theory of computation and algorithms that now underpin the field of computer science as a whole.

Dr. Karp’s theory streamlined algorithm design for problem solving, accelerated algorithm engineering, and brought computational complexity within the scope of scientific research. His theory has significantly influenced problem solving in a wide range of fields, and continues to contribute to the advancement of technology in general.

In addition to Dr. Karp, this year’s Kyoto Prize laureates include, in “Basic Sciences,” Dr. Anthony James Pawson, 55, a molecular biologist and distinguished investigator at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto; and, in “Arts and Philosophy,” Dr. Charles Margrave Taylor, 76, a philosopher and professor emeritus at McGill University in Montreal.

Each Kyoto Prize laureate will receive a diploma, a 20-karat gold medal, and a cash gift of 50 million yen (approximately US$460,000) during a week of ceremonies beginning November 9, 2008, in Kyoto. The laureates will reconvene in San Diego, Calif. March 18 to 20, 2009, to participate in the eighth annual Kyoto Laureate Symposium.

“It is my hope that the Kyoto Prize will encourage balanced development of both our scientific progress and spiritual depth, and hence provide impetus toward the structuring of new philosophical paradigms,” said Dr. Kazuo Inamori, founder and president of the Inamori Foundation.

About the Inamori Foundation

The Inamori Foundation was established in 1984 by Dr. Kazuo Inamori, founder and chairman emeritus of Kyocera (NYSE:KYO) and KDDI Corporation. The Kyoto Prize was founded in 1985, in line with Dr. Inamori's belief that man has no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of society, and that mankind’s future can be assured only when there is a balance between our scientific progress and our spiritual depth. An emblematic feature of the Kyoto Prize is that it is presented not only to recognize outstanding achievements, but also in honor of the excellent personal characteristics that have shaped those achievements. The laureates are selected through a strict and impartial process considering candidates recommended from around the world. As of November 10, 2007, the Kyoto Prize has been awarded to 74 individuals and one group – collectively representing 12 nations, and ranging from scientists, engineers and researchers to philosophers, painters, architects, sculptors, musicians and film directors. The United States has produced the most recipients (32), followed by Japan (12), the United Kingdom (nine), and France (seven).

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