The 2012 Millennium Technology Prize Committee has named Linus Torvalds, founder of Linux, and Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, stem cell researcher, as winners of the prestigious award, which marks the first time two innovators jointly received the honor.

Linux founder Linus Torvalds. (Image: Andrew McMillan, via Flickr / CC)

Torvalds work as the creator and advocate of the Linux kernel, which now runs millions of computers and mobile devices, earned him the 2012 Millennium Technology Prize. He received …