FEBRUARY 2011

National Economic Council, Council of Economic Advisers, 

and Office of Science and Technology Policy

Securing Our Economic Growth and Prosperity

A STR ATEGY FOR 

A MER ICAN INNOVATION

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 1

New Initiatives 2

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Innovation is essential to winning the future through long-term growth and competitiveness 7

The private sector is America’s innovation engine 9

Government as innovation facilitator 10

Invest in the Building Blocks of American Innovation 15

Educate Americans with 21st century skills and create a world-class workforce 15

Strengthen and broaden American leadership in fundamental research . . . . . . . . . 17

Build a leading physical infrastructure 17

Develop an advanced information technology ecosystem 18

Promote Market-Based Innovation 21

Accelerate business innovation with the R&E tax credit 21

Promote ingenuity through effective intellectual property policy 21

Encourage high-growth and innovation-based entrepreneurship 22

Promote innovative, open, and competitive markets 24

Catalyze Breakthroughs for National Priorities 25

Unleash a clean energy revolution 25

Accelerate biotechnology, nanotechnology, and advanced manufacturing 27

Develop breakthrough space capabilities and applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Drive breakthroughs in health care technology 28

Create a quantum leap in educational technologies 29
A Strategy for American Innovation

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Appendix A: Invest in the Building Blocks of American Innovation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Educate Americans with 21st century skills and create a world-class workforce 32

Strengthen and broaden American leadership in fundamental research . . . . . . . . . 35

Build a leading physical infrastructure 36

Develop an advanced information technology ecosystem 37

Appendix B: Promote Market-Based Innovation 41

Accelerate business innovation with the R&E tax credit 42

Promote ingenuity through effective intellectual property policy 42

Encourage high-growth and innovation-based entrepreneurship 45

Promote innovative, open, and competitive markets 49

Appendix C: Catalyze Breakthroughs for National Priorities 53

Unleash a clean energy revolution 54

Accelerate biotechnology, nanotechnology, and advanced manufacturing 60

Develop breakthrough space capabilities and applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Drive breakthroughs in health care technology 63

Create a quantum leap in educational technologies 68
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Executive Summary

America’s future economic growth and international competitiveness depend on our capacity to innovate. We can create the jobs and industries of the future by doing what America does best – investing 

in the creativity and imagination of our people. To win the future, we must out-innovate, out-educate, 

and out-build the rest of the world. We also must take responsibility for our deficit, by investing in what 

makes America stronger, cutting what doesn’t, and reforming how our government operates so it focuses 

on promoting our economic growth and preparing for the challenges of a new century.

President Obama’s Strategy for American Innovation seeks to harness the inherent ingenuity of the 

American people to ensure that our economic growth is rapid, broad-based, and sustained. Innovationbased economic growth will bring greater income, higher quality jobs, and improved health and quality 

of life to all U.S. citizens. The Strategy for American Innovation provides a multifaceted, commonsense, 

and sustained approach to ensuring America’s future prosperity.

This document updates the Innovation Strategy issued in September 2009, detailing how the 

Administration, the American people, and American businesses can work together to strengthen our 

long-run economic growth. It begins by explaining the essential role of innovation in our past and 

future prosperity, the central importance of the private sector as the engine of innovation, and the role 

of government in supporting our innovation system. Building from this framework and the initiatives 

set forth in the first innovation strategy document, it charts the progress of our initial efforts, discusses 

additional steps implemented in the past year, and introduces important new initiatives, all captured 

by the pyramid below.
A Strategy for American Innovation

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New Initiatives

Key Administration priorities will improve America’s economic growth and competitiveness on many 

critical dimensions.

• The Administration’s proposed Wireless Initiative will help businesses reach 98% of Americans 

with high-speed wireless access within five years and also facilitate the creation of a nationwide 

interoperable public safety network. The Initiative will substantially expand the development of 

new wireless spectrum available for wireless broadband, by freeing up 500 MHz over 10 years.

Expanding new commercial spectrum is necessary to avoid “spectrum crunch” and facilitate 

the rapidly growing wireless technology revolution. The initiative will support advances in 

security, reliability, and other critical wireless features; accelerate wireless innovations in health, 

education, transportation, and other application areas; and engage community participation 

in generating and demonstrating next generation wireless applications.

• The patent reform agenda is essential to reducing the enormous backlog of patent applications 

at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). By stalling the delivery of innovative goods and 

services to market, this backlog impedes economic growth and the creation of high-paying jobs.

The patent reform legislative agenda will enable the USPTO to adequately fund its operations 

through user fees and allow the agency to implement new initiatives to improve patent quality 

while reducing the average delay in patent processing times from 35 months to 20 months.

Once implemented, the USPTO’s proposed three-track model will allow applicants to prioritize 

applications, enabling the most valuable patents to come to market within 12 months.

• The Administration is developing new initiatives to improve K-12 education with an emphasis on 

graduating every student from high school ready for college and a career. The Administration’s 

FY 2012 Budget will launch the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Education (ARPA-ED) to 

support research on breakthrough technologies to enhance learning. The Budget also supports 

continuation of the historic Race to the Top, with an expanded focus on school districts prepared 

to implement and sustain comprehensive reforms. Working with a coalition of private sector 

leaders called Change the Equation, the Administration is encouraging public-private partnerships that inspire more students – including girls and other currently underrepresented groups 

– to excel in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The Administration will 

also work to prepare 100,000 STEM teachers over the next decade with a down payment in the 

FY 2012 Budget to recruit STEM teachers and improve teacher training.

• To accelerate the development of clean energy technologies, the President has proposed a 

Clean Energy Standard that will help us reach a goal of delivering 80% of the nation’s electricity 

from clean sources by 2035. The Administration’s FY 2012 Budget proposes to expand the funding to date for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) and to create three 

new Energy Innovations Hubs to solve challenges in critical areas. The Budget also proposes a 

reauthorization of the Clean Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit and provides funding for research, 

development, and deployment to help the U.S. reach the goal of one million advanced technology vehicles on the road by 2015.
Ex ecu tive Summary

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• The Startup America initiative will facilitate entrepreneurship across the country, increasing 

the success of high-growth startups that create broad economic growth and quality jobs. The 

Administration launched the Startup America initiative with new agency efforts that accelerate 

the transfer of research breakthroughs from university labs; create two $1 billion initiatives 

for impact investing and early-stage seed financing, among other incentives to invest in 

high-growth startups; improve the regulatory environment for starting and growing new businesses; and increase connections between entrepreneurs and high-quality business mentors.

Responding to the President’s call to action around the national importance of entrepreneurship, 

private-sector leaders are independently committing significant new resources to catalyze and 

develop entrepreneurial ecosystems across the country.

These new initiatives work together with, and expand upon, sustained Administration efforts across our 

three critical areas. These ongoing efforts are summarized as follows:

1. Invest in the Building Blocks of American Innovation. Spurring the innovations that will drive 

America’s future economic growth and competitiveness requires critical investments in basic 

foundations: our workforce, our scientific research, and our infrastructure.

− Educate the next generation with 21st century skills and create a world-class workforce. 

President Obama is taking continuous steps to improve our educational system from early 

education through college and graduate school, and to promote student achievement 

and careers in STEM fields. In early childhood, the Administration is supporting innovation 

through the Early Learning Challenge Fund and injecting performance-based competition into the Head Start Program. At the elementary and secondary levels, the Educate to 

Innovate campaign harnesses public-private partnerships to enhance STEM education, 

complementing continuing efforts such as Race to the Top, which uses competitive grants 

to leverage state and local reform. At the college level and beyond, the Administration is 

committed to restoring America’s global leadership in college graduation rates (by, among 

other strategies, improving affordability through the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility 

Act), making investments in community colleges and the public workforce system, and supporting the new Task Force on Skills for America’s Future, which will leverage public-private 

partnerships to better train Americans of all ages for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

− Strengthen and broaden American leadership in fundamental research. The commercial 

innovations that drive economic progress often depend on breakthroughs in fundamental science. President Obama has implemented the largest increase in federally-funded 

research in history and is making continuous investments to double funding for three key 

basic research agencies: the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy’s 

Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology laboratories.

These sustained science investments will lay the foundation for new discoveries and new 

technologies that will improve our lives and create the jobs and industries of the future.

These investments will help the United States establish a leadership position in areas such 

as robotics and data-intensive science and engineering.
A Strategy for American Innovation

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− Build a leading 21st century infrastructure. President Obama has made a renewed commitment to investing in the roads, rails, and runways that America’s businesses need to be 

efficient and innovative. Building on historic investments through the Recovery Act, the 

Administration continues to address transportation challenges through investment in 

high-speed rail, the next generation of air traffic control, and a new proposal for a National 

Infrastructure Bank, which will promote competition and innovation to maximize the return 

on our infrastructure investments.

− Develop an advanced information technology ecosystem. President Obama has developed a comprehensive strategy to create the IT ecosystem needed for 21st century innovation. This “virtual infrastructure” encompasses the critical information, computing, and 

networking platforms that increasingly support our national economy. With constant effort 

and vigilance, the Administration is working to expand access to high-speed Internet, 

modernize the electric grid, increase the availability of wireless spectrum to support high 

value uses, and secure cyberspace.

2. Promote Market-Based Innovation. American businesses are our engines of innovation.

They bring American ingenuity to the marketplace, where new ideas are proven, commercialized, and diffused. It is imperative to promote a national environment ripe for innovation and 

entrepreneurship that allows U.S. companies to drive future economic growth and continue to 

lead on the global stage.

− Accelerate business innovation with a simplified and permanent R&E tax credit. President 

Obama has called for the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit to be simplified and 

made permanent, creating predictable, substantial incentives for U.S. businesses to innovate. The proposed FY 2011 Budget devotes about $100 billion over 10 years to leverage 

additional research and development investments.

− Support innovative entrepreneurs. President Obama has expanded lending support 

and tax credits for small businesses while supporting well-functioning capital markets for 

businesses of all sizes. In addition to patent reform, which will accelerate patent issuance 

and better enable new companies to succeed, and the Startup America initiative, which will 

promote entrepreneurship across the country, the Affordable Care Act removes obstacles 

to entrepreneurship by making it easier for Americans to start and join new businesses 

without giving up health coverage.

− Catalyze innovation hubs and encourage development of entrepreneurial ecosystems. 

President Obama continues to emphasize the potential of “innovation hubs,” looking for new 

opportunities to bring talented scientists and entrepreneurs together to support innovation 

in cutting edge areas. This concept underlies the Department of Energy’s Energy Innovation 

Hubs program and is also driving the Startup America initiative’s focus on building connections between established and new entrepreneurs, including those making the leap from 

lab to industry. Through these efforts, the Obama Administration is working to catalyze a 

new model of economic development.
Ex ecu tive Summary

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− Promote innovative, open, and competitive markets. President Obama is working to 

encourage innovation by improving regulation and enhancing market access at home and 

abroad. The revised Horizontal Merger Guidelines, released in August 2010, bring innovation 

considerations forcefully into antitrust evaluation. In addition, through efforts such as the 

free trade agreement with South Korea, the National Export Initiative brings a sustained, 

vigorous commitment to ensure fair and open export markets for American producers, 

allowing our innovative businesses to expand globally with the goal of doubling exports 

by the end of 2014.

3. Catalyze Breakthroughs for National Priorities. For national priorities where innovation is 

critical but market failures impede progress, government can help spur technological advances.

Priorities include developing alternative energy sources, reducing costs and improving care with 

health IT, catalyzing advances in educational technologies, and ensuring that the U.S. remains 

on the leading edge of the bio- and nanotechnology revolutions.

− Unleash a clean energy revolution. New and improved energy technologies will play central roles in the 21st century global economy, and the Obama Administration is committed 

to fostering American leadership in this area, providing economic growth and creating 

jobs of the future while confronting environmental challenges and enhancing our energy 

security. Building on the successful investments geared toward doubling the supply of 

renewable energy by the end of 2012, and other initiatives, the Administration is setting 

ambitious new goals and laying the pathways to meet them. Through the proposed Clean 

Energy Standard, expanded investments in research through the Department of Energy’s 

Office of Science, ARPA-E, three new Energy Innovation Hubs, and other means to accelerate 

research, development, and deployment of clean energy technologies, the Administration 

will shift the American economy toward global leadership and a clean, secure, and independent energy future.

− Accelerate biotechnology, nanotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. The President 

is committed to investments in innovation that promise to drive better health, future 

economic growth, and quality jobs in America. The National Institutes of Health has proposed a new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, which will speed the 

development of new diagnostics, treatments, and cures by building new bridges between 

the lab and clinic. The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) is investing in areas such 

as nanoelectronics, which will foster a revolution in computing comparable to the transition from the vacuum tube to the transistor. And the FY 2012 Budget is making substantial 

investments to accelerate breakthroughs in advanced manufacturing technologies that 

can provide foundations for private sector investment and growth.

− Develop breakthrough space capabilities and applications. Space capabilities play critical roles in global communications, navigation, and commerce, while warning of natural 

disasters and improving national security. Guided by the National Space Policy, NASA, the 

Department of Defense, and other agencies are working to advance U.S. capabilities and 

expand American industry’s role in developing next-generation applications.
A Strategy for American Innovation

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− Drive breakthroughs in health care technology. Innovations in health care delivery, 

harnessing the power of data and technology, promise to help prevent medical errors, 

improve care quality, and reduce costs. Building from the Recovery Act and the Affordable 

Care Act, the Administration is continuously engaged in projects to promote health IT 

adoption, reform payment incentives to reward value instead of volume, and liberate an 

unprecedented amount of health information. In combination, these trends will facilitate 

fundamental improvements in national health and harness American ingenuity in solving 

our health care challenges.

− Create a quantum leap in educational technologies. The United States should foster 

innovation in technologies that have the potential to dramatically improve student performance, such as software that is as effective as a personal tutor, and increase access to 

lifelong learning and training for American workers. The President’s FY 2012 Budget for the 

Department of Education includes a proposal to launch the Advanced Research Projects 

Agency – Education, a new organization that will support research on breakthrough technologies to enhance learning.
★ 7 ★

Introduction

Innovation is essential to winning the future through long-term growth 

and competitiveness

The history of the American economy is one of enormous progress associated with remarkable innovation. Two hundred years ago, real income per person in America averaged four percent of what it is 

today,1 the average American lived for forty years, and thirty percent of children did not survive until their 

fifth birthday.2 Electric power, automobiles, and telephones were hardly imagined, let alone computers 

and air travel. There were no antibiotics or vaccines – and no understanding that germs cause disease.

The word “scientist” had not yet been coined. But researchers like Isaac Newton had begun uncovering 

fundamental scientific foundations that would underpin two centuries of practical inventions. The 

U.S. Constitution empowered Congress to create effective intellectual property rights – helping add 

“the fuel of interest to the fire of genius,” in President Lincoln’s words. Americans later seized on the 

Industrial Revolution – an explosion of innovation – propelling a young country with democratic ideals to unprecedented economic heights and providing a powerful example for other nations to follow.

In short, innovation is ultimately tied to America’s well-being and to our conception of the essential 

“American character.”

Innovation – the process by which individuals and organizations generate new ideas and put them into 

practice – is the foundation of American economic growth and national competitiveness. Economic 

growth in advanced economies like the United States is driven by the creation of new and better ways 

of producing goods and services, a process that triggers new and productive investments. That innovation is the cornerstone of economic growth can be seen in the advance of our national industries.

1.  See Angus Maddison, The World Economy: Historical Statistics, OECD Publishing, (2006).

2.  See Robert W. Fogel, “Nutrition and the Decline in Mortality since 1700: Some Preliminary Findings” in Longterm Factors in American Economic Growth, Engerman and Gallman eds. (1986), and the review by Michael Haines, 

“The Urban Mortality Transition in the United States, 1800-1940”, National Bureau of Economic Research Historical 

Working Paper No. 134 (2001).

“For in a global economy, the key to our prosperity will never be to 

compete by paying our workers less or building cheaper, lower-quality 

products. That’s not our advantage. The key to our success – as it has 

always been – will be to compete by developing new products, by 

generating new industries, by maintaining our role as the world’s engine 

of scientific discovery and technological innovation. It’s absolutely 

essential to our future.”

—- President Barack Obama, November 17, 2010
A Strategy for American Innovation

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Entire industries were made possible only by developing and commercializing new ideas, from the 

19th century advances in railways and steam power, to the later revolution of electrification and the 

associated development of light bulbs, radios, televisions, electric refrigeration, and air conditioners, 

to the modern semiconductor, computer, and biotechnology industries. These innovative sectors 

have consistently raised the output of our workforce, creating better-paying jobs, raising our national 

standard of living, and enhancing our economic strength vis-à-vis other nations. Innovation can take 

many forms: a new machine that improves quality and production time in factories; a new consumer 

electronic device or Internet-enabled application that keeps us connected with coworkers and family; 

a new way of organizing the workplace that increases our productivity; or a new vaccine that protects 

our citizens from disease.

Since the 1940s, the United States has led the world in creating new industries and ways of doing 

business, establishing itself as the global innovation leader. But America cannot rest on its laurels.

Unfortunately, there are disturbing signs that America’s innovative performance slipped substantially 

during the past decade. Across a range of innovation metrics – including growth in corporate and government R&D, the number of scientific and technical degrees and workers, access to venture capital, 

and the creation of new firms – our nation has fallen in global innovation-ranked competitiveness.3

Other nations recognize that innovation is the key to long-term economic growth and are making 

pro-innovation investments and adopting pro-innovation policies. Without thoughtful, decisive, and 

targeted actions, we cannot expect that the industries of the future will emerge and prosper in the 

United States.

Recognizing the central role of innovation in economic growth, the Administration’s Innovation Strategy 

announced in 2009 emphasized several of these disturbing trends and called for renewed and enhanced 

investment in innovation. These efforts were substantially supported by historic investments in the 

Recovery Act and included large expansions in fundamental research through agencies such as the 

National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, and the National Institutes 

of Health, accelerating fundamental breakthroughs at the beginning of the innovation pipeline. Now we 

must build on these efforts and ensure that the private sector can be as innovative as possible so that 

American workers and businesses will continue to lead the world economy in the decades ahead. New 

initiatives will free up wireless spectrum that will facilitate private sector investment and innovation, 

improve the patent system, train workers for quality jobs, catalyze the private sector to meet national 

priorities like clean energy, and foster the entrepreneurial spirit that has always driven this country to 

greater heights. This Strategy for American Innovation discusses these new points of emphasis and places 

them within the broader framework of the Administration’s innovation policy.

Americans have always seen themselves as experimenters and risk-takers. Now we must – at every level 

of society – encourage this pioneering spirit. In the 1800s, when farmers and blacksmiths took hammers 

to plows and harnesses, America was described as a “nation of tinkerers.” In the 21st century, continued 

economic growth depends on us being a “nation of innovators” – a nation that generates the best and 

brightest ideas and sees that these ideas spread through our workforce. The American people will do 

best when their inventive, entrepreneurial spirit is unleashed. Government policy must nurture that 

spirit and ensure it is not deterred.

3.  Robert D. Atkinson & Scott M. Andes, The Atlantic Century: Benchmarking EU and U.S. Innovation and 

Competitiveness, The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (2009), available at http://www.itif.org/

publications/atlantic-century-benchmarking-eu-and-us-innovation-and-competitiveness.
Introduction

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The private sector is America’s innovation engine

America’s entrepreneurs and industrial research laboratories have long produced a cascade of important 

innovations, from agricultural technologies to Edison’s light bulb to Bell Labs’ transistor, from General 

Electric’s jet engines to Google’s Internet tools. Innovation is not limited to new products but extends to 

new organizational models. Henry Ford’s assembly line brought affordable automobiles to Americans 

while bringing higher employment and wages to the car industry. Dell Computer and Amazon.com 

similarly developed new sales models, harnessing the Internet to bring new, competitively-priced 

choices to a wider array of consumers.

America’s businesses, with close knowledge and acute awareness of the costs and opportunities across 

our market system, are well positioned to tap the ingenuity of our workforce to solve specific challenges 

and cultivate new ideas in the crucible of competition. In so doing, they can perceive and generate commercially valuable ideas. And a new idea is just the starting point, because our market system, through 

its competitive pressures, also works to test these ideas and spread the best ones. Innovation is the entire 

process through which an invention is successfully put into practice and widely diffused, generating 

increased labor productivity for workers, profits for suppliers, and benefits to adopters and consumers.

By demonstrating how ideas can be commercialized, businesses also drive other firms to innovate, allowing organizations with different technical capacities and market insights to take the next steps. In fact, 

most innovation does not stand alone but complements other innovations. For example, while Apple 

Computer founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak envisioned a mass market for a more user-friendly 

personal computer, it took many years and many other contributions – including improvements in 

software, microprocessors, monitors, memory chips, batteries, and communications technology – before 

the personal computer industry reached critical mass. And these complementary technologies were 

themselves innovations, collectively providing jobs in engineering, manufacturing, distribution, and 

sales, while delivering significant consumer benefits.

The American economy is built on an enduring capacity for idea creation and diffusion. Competitive 

markets provide strong incentives for private businesses to improve their products and operations and 

for capital and labor resources to be reinvested in our best ideas. The inherent uncertainty of innovation 

means that important breakthroughs may come from many quarters – often unexpectedly – and our 

decentralized markets facilitate the generation of these new possibilities. By continually reinventing 

itself, the private sector is the engine of innovation that brings greater prosperity to Americans.
A Strategy for American Innovation

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Government as innovation facilitator

Given the central importance of innovative activity to our economic growth, the public interest in 

sustaining innovation is clear. The key follow-on question is whether markets alone can provide sufficient incentives for such investments. The standard lesson from economics, and history, is that an 

innovation-friendly environment requires public support on specific dimensions.4 The appropriate role 

for government can be understood by clarifying the precise circumstances where markets, despite their 

many strengths, will not produce a sufficient stream of innovations on their own. Thus, the true choice 

in innovation policy is not starkly between government management and no government involvement, 

but rather choosing the right role for government in supporting private sector innovation.

One central “market failure” is in the field of basic scientific research. Basic research typically does not 

have direct commercial payoffs. Yet breakthroughs in basic research underpin downstream, commercial 

ideas, which can bring enormous economic benefits. For example, engineering builds on Newton’s laws 

of motion, the biotechnology industry builds on Watson and Crick’s discovery of the structure of DNA, 

and the dot.com industry builds on government and university development of the Internet. Because 

basic science has little if any immediate commercial return, its costs are typically not easily undertaken 

by private investors, thus leaving government funding as a critical source of support.

4.  See, e.g., Douglas North and Robert Thomas, The Rise of the Western World: An Economic History, Cambridge: 

Cambridge University Press (1973); and Charles Jones, Was an Industrial Revolution Inevitable? Economic Growth over 

the Very Long Run, 2(1) Advances in Macroeconomics (2001).

Box 1: Social Gains from Innovation

The social gains from innovations typically greatly exceed the private return. For example, the inventions 

of the telephone, transistor, light bulb, dishwasher, laser, CT scan, web browser, and antibiotics have all 

had enormous, broad, and ongoing social benefits far in excess of any commercial profits enjoyed by the 

original creators. General estimates suggest that the private profits from an innovation typically account for 

a tiny fraction – a few percent – of the social value.

Private firms do not capture the full gains of their innovations for three essential reasons. First, users will 

only pay for the innovation if its benefits exceed its price. These consumer benefits – the “consumer surplus” 

– mean that much of the innovation’s value will immediately accrue to users. Second, the innovative 

business will face pressures to lower prices as other businesses imitate and improve upon the successful 

innovation, which shortens the profit stream of the original product; indeed, the firm that initially introduces a new innovation may not even be the one that succeeds in the marketplace. Moreover, once any 

intellectual property rights (the patent or copyright) expire, competitive pressures will further drive down 

prices and limit private profits, transferring the innovation’s value even more fully to the consumer. Finally, 

a successful innovation often launches hosts of additional innovations by other firms, the benefits of which 

are not captured by the original innovator.

With the limited scope for sustained profits in the private sector, the benefits of innovation accrue widely.

Ultimately, innovation benefits society at large in the form of rising standards of living. Real incomes rise, 

with Americans producing more output per hour and earning more income per hour, allowing us to consume new and improved products and live longer lives.
Introduction

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Other “market failures” surround commercial invention, where markets may still fail to provide adequate 

incentives. As discussed in Box 1, businesses typically capture only a small portion of the benefits of 

their innovations, partly because consumers enjoy a substantial share of the social gain and partly 

because follow-on innovations may be captured by other firms.5 This general issue calls for policies that 

enhance private sector innovation incentives. These policies can act to lower commercial research costs 

through mechanisms such as the Research & Experimentation Tax Credit. Other mechanisms enhance 

the demand for innovations. For example, demonstration funding and government procurement can 

encourage the creation and deployment of next generation technologies, bringing private innovation 

incentives closer to the social interest. Government procurement was used, for example, by the Defense 

Department to promote the development of the Internet. Prize competitions (see Box 2) can be especially 

useful in driving innovation for specific needs. Collectively, these demand mechanisms can be targeted at 

well-defined national priority areas, such as clean energy, and can be especially useful in contexts where 

markets under-price an activity’s costs, such as our national dependence on fossil fuel consumption.

Government also plays an essential role in setting and enforcing appropriate rules. Foremost in the 

innovation context is a well-functioning property rights system. Absent effective legal protections 

for innovators, other businesses can immediately exploit an innovator’s idea, undermining the incentive to invent in the first place. Public policy solves this problem through intellectual property rights 

– allowing limited, short-run grants of exclusive rights to catalyze inventive activity. Recognizing the 

importance of intellectual property rights, we must commit to their effective enforcement, as the Obama 

Administration has done in appointing the first Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator and 

redoubling our efforts in this area. Critically, we must also commit to making the necessary public investments to support high-quality patent examination, lower legal uncertainty, and clear persistent patent 

application backlogs so that innovative businesses and entrepreneurs are not faced with unnecessary 

risk or left waiting for years before a patent decision is made.

5.  See also William D. Nordhaus, “Schumpeterian Profits in the American Economy: Theory and Measurement”, Yale 

University , 2004.
A Strategy for American Innovation

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Box 2: Spurring Innovation through Prizes and Challenges

In his September 2009 Innovation Strategy, President Obama called on all agencies to increase their use 

of prizes and challenges to mobilize America’s ingenuity to solve some of our nation’s most pressing 

challenges.

From the 1714 Longitude Prize that stimulated the development of the world’s first practical method to 

measure a ship’s longitude to the Orteig Prize that inspired Charles Lindbergh to fly nonstop from New 

York to Paris to the X Prize given to the inventor who creates a car that can deliver over 100 miles per gallon, 

prizes have a long record of spurring innovation. In the 21st century, unprecedented levels of connectivity 

have given rise to a renaissance for prize competitions. A recent McKinsey report found that private sector 

investment in prizes has increased significantly in recent years, including $250 million in new prize money 

between 2000 and 2007.

As the Wall Street Journal recently concluded, “These prizes have proliferated because they actually work.” 

Under the right circumstances, prizes have a number of advantages over traditional grants and contracts.

Prizes allow the sponsor to set an ambitious goal without selecting the team or approach that is most likely 

to succeed, to increase the number and diversity of minds tackling tough problems, to pay only for results, 

and to stimulate private-sector investment that is many times greater than the cash value of the prize 

(Orteig competitors collectively spent $400,000 to win the $25,000 purse).

Since September 2009, the Obama Administration has taken important steps to accelerate public-sector 

adoption of these innovative tools. In March 2010, the Office of Management and Budget issued a formal 

policy framework to guide agency leadership in using prizes to advance their core mission. In September 

2010, the Administration launched Challenge.gov, a one-stop shop where entrepreneurs and citizen 

solvers can find public-sector prizes. Throughout, the Administration built a community of practice for 

agencies to share best practices and lessons learned. As a result, in its first 4 months alone, Challenge.gov 

has featured nearly 60 challenges from more than 25 agencies across the Executive Branch, generating 

novel solutions for childhood obesity, advanced vehicle technologies, financing for small businesses, Type 

1 Diabetes, and many other national priorities.

Another example is a challenge launched on the NASA Innovation Pavilion for a forecasting algorithm to 

protect America’s astronauts from radiation exposure in space. Over 500 problem solvers from 53 countries 

answered NASA’s call. Expecting no solutions for this long intractable problem, NASA received a solution that exceeded their requirements from a retired radio-frequency engineer in rural New Hampshire.

The winner had never before responded to a government request for proposals, let alone worked with 

NASA. Yet, his winning approach forecast solar proton events with 85% accuracy, a result NASA dubbed 

“outstanding.”

Prize competitions like these mark a dramatic departure from business as usual and – thanks to newlyenacted legislation – will soon become a standard tool in every federal agency’s toolbox. On December 

21st, Congress passed the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, providing broad prize 

authority to all federal agencies. By giving agencies a simple and clear legal path, the America COMPETES 

Reauthorization Act will make it dramatically easier for agencies to use prizes and challenges. In the months 

to come, the Obama Administration will work closely with key agencies to leverage the new authority for 

ambitious prizes in areas of national priority.
Introduction

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Government can also accelerate innovation by setting rules in specific sectors, notably by updating or 

eliminating outdated regulations. To that end, President Obama signed an Executive Order in January 

2011 calling for a government-wide review of regulations to update or revise them to, among other 

purposes, ensure that they facilitate—rather than impede—competition and innovation in addressing valid public policy goals. Effective management of public resources, such as the electromagnetic 

spectrum, unleashes innovation by opening markets and reducing uncertainty over usage rights and 

engineering design. In appropriate contexts, public leadership can help set standards for technology 

platforms, such as emerging smart grid or health IT technologies, providing confidence to the marketplace to develop and adopt new generations of products. Standard setting, which the government can 

enable through its role as convener and support through research and development, often involves 

facilitating coordination within the private sector to create a larger market, thus enhancing the demand 

for innovative products. Export initiatives further increase the market scale for U.S. businesses. Increased 

scale is an attraction to business innovation, while tiny, balkanized markets are not.

Finally, the government plays essential roles through public investments that businesses rely on but 

do not themselves create. Educational investments and workforce training provide the essential building block – a capable workforce – from which new ideas come and through which good ideas spread.

Infrastructure investments, including physical and information infrastructure, connect our markets, 

creating attractive scale for innovation and allowing best practices to diffuse.

By championing policies that facilitate marketplace innovation, the federal government will continue 

to be an essential partner in the U.S. national innovation system. To that end, the Obama Administration 

will take appropriate public action by supporting an environment in which innovation is rewarded and 

best practices are diffused, investing in a technically capable workforce, supporting basic scientific discoveries, and promoting the development of the technology platforms from which future innovations 

will spring. Government direction can never be a substitute for the free market conditions that propel 

American innovation. But government must act to support those conditions and ensure that innovation, 

the engine of our prosperity, drives America further and faster towards higher quality jobs, healthier 

and longer lives, new opportunities and new industries, and the ever-expanding technological frontier.

★ 15 ★

Invest in the Building Blocks 

of American Innovation

Our innovation strategy begins with critical foundations: education, scientific research, and infrastructure. First, we must create an educational system that is internationally competitive and innovative in 

preparing our workforce for our increasingly knowledge-intensive economy. Next, we must invest in 

scientific research to restore America’s leadership in creating the scientific and technological breakthroughs that underpin private sector innovations. Finally, we must invest in a first-class infrastructure 

that moves people and ideas at 21st century speeds. These are the building blocks of an innovation 

strategy that will lead America to a more prosperous future.

Educate Americans with 21st century skills and create a world-class 

workforce

With strong educational foundations, Americans will create the leading ideas of the 21st century and 

ensure that these ideas diffuse throughout the American workforce. On many metrics, however, including grade-level proficiency and college graduation rates, America has slipped behind other countries.

We must reform our education and workforce training systems to ensure Americans are qualified for 

the jobs of tomorrow. This imperative underpins the Obama Administration’s focus on education reform 

in general and in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in particular. It is also 

imperative to extend STEM educational and career opportunities to women and minority groups that 

are underrepresented in these areas, so that all Americans can find quality jobs and lead our innovative 

economy in the decades ahead.

Improve America’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education

The President has pledged to prepare an additional 100,000 STEM teachers by the end of the decade, 

with strong teaching skills and deep content knowledge. The Administration’s Educate to Innovate 

“Competition [in the global economy] is going to be much more fierce 

and the winners of this competition will be the countries that have 

the most educated workers, a serious commitment to research and 

technology, and access to quality infrastructure like roads and airports 

and high-speed rail and high-speed Internet. Those are the seeds of 

economic growth in the 21st century. Where they are planted, the most 

jobs and businesses will take root.”

—President Barack Obama, December 6, 2010
A Strategy for American Innovation

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campaign harnesses public-private partnerships to improve K-12 STEM education, make STEM education 

more accessible, move American students up the international rankings in STEM literacy, and expand 

STEM career opportunities. Responding to the President’s call to action, over 100 CEOs have formed 

an organization called Change the Equation. In 2011, these business leaders have committed to scale 

up effective STEM programs in at least 100 under-served communities, with particular emphasis on 

broadening participation to nurture the talents and potential of all Americans.

Reform elementary and secondary education

The Administration’s Race to the Top program uses competitive grants to leverage state and local reform 

in the quality of elementary and secondary education. The Administration’s Blueprint for Reform reenvisions the federal role in K-12 education to create the context for innovation, and the Administration 

is working with Congress to update and improve the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (as 

amended by the No Child Left Behind Act). The President’s FY 2012 Budget includes support for School 

Turnaround Grants to drive change and improve student performance in 5,000 of the nation’s lowestperforming schools, and support for Investing in Innovation to develop and expand effective innovative 

strategies to improve students’ educational outcomes.

Restore America to first in the world in college attainment

America has slipped from 1st to 9th among OECD countries in the share of young people with a college 

degree. President Obama is committed to restoring America to first place by 2020. The Health Care and 

Education Reconciliation Act (HCERA), signed in March 2010, makes all federal loans available directly 

to students, ending wasteful subsidies once paid to third-party administrators. By saving $68 billion in 

subsidies over the next 11 years, the direct loan program allows for both deficit reduction and investments in college affordability for low-income students, including a $40 billion expansion of the Pell 

Grant program. The President will continue efforts to make college affordable and is calling on Congress 

to make permanent his American Opportunity Tax Credit, worth $10,000 for four years of college. The 

Trade Adjustment Act invests in our nation’s community colleges, enhancing this important avenue to 

advanced training, which is also a critical component of the educational pipeline for many underserved 

students who wish to pursue further studies. Finally, the Task Force on Skills for America’s Future will 

build and improve partnerships between businesses and educational institutions to train American 

workers for 21st century jobs.

Create a first-class system of early education

According to Nobel-award winning economist James Heckman, “Early childhood education fosters 

cognitive skills along with attentiveness, motivation, self-control and sociability—the character skills 

that turn knowledge into know-how and people into productive citizens.” To achieve these objectives, 

the Administration is investing in evidence-based early learning and development, and working to hold 

Head Start programs more accountable by measuring classroom quality and requiring lower-performing 

programs to compete for funding. In addition, the proposed Early Learning Challenge Fund will upgrade 

state innovation in early childhood programs through high standards and professional development.
Invest in the Building Blocks of American Innovation

★ 17 ★

Strengthen and broaden American leadership in fundamental research

America’s universities, federal labs, and industrial laboratories must continue to do the research that 

will lead to breakthrough products and new companies. That is why the Administration has pushed for 

historic increases in America’s R&D investments. Taken together, these steps will ensure that America 

continues to generate the most valuable ideas and that Americans have the know-how to implement 

these ideas here at home.

Enact the largest R&D increase in our nation’s history

With $18.3 billion in research funding, the Recovery Act was part of the largest annual increase in 

research and development in America’s history. The President’s FY 2012 Budget provides additional 

support for science and basic research, delivering on the President’s commitment to double funding 

for three key basic research agencies—the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy’s 

Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology laboratories.

Set national goal to invest three percent of GDP in R&D

The President has set a goal for America to invest more than three percent of our GDP in public and 

private research and development. This investment rate will surpass the level achieved at the height of 

the space race, and can be achieved through policies that support basic and applied research, create 

new incentives for private innovation, promote breakthroughs in national priority areas, and improve 

STEM education.  

Build a leading physical infrastructure

In the 20th century, the United States built highway and aviation networks that transformed the country—connecting our markets, businesses, and workers to fuel rapid economic expansion. Today, new 

transportation investments are needed to support economic growth and keep America competitive in 

the global economy. Efficient transportation systems facilitate trade and collaboration, and help workers 

find well-matched but distant jobs. By integrating our markets, infrastructure investments create the 

scale that attracts innovation and the competition that causes best practices to spread.

Fulfill a new transportation vision with high-speed rail

President Obama has set the ambitious goal of connecting 80% of Americans to the high-speed rail 

system within 25 years. To accomplish this, he proposes sustained investments that build on the Recovery 

Act and would help create an efficient, high-speed passenger rail network of 100- to 600-mile intercity 

corridors that will better connect communities across America. This vision builds on the successful 

traditional highway and aviation development models with a 21st century solution that focuses on a 

clean, energy-efficient option.
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 18 ★

Develop the next generation of air traffic control

The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is a game-changing investment in our national 

airspace system to make air travel more convenient, dependable, and energy-efficient, while ensuring 

flights are as safe and secure as possible. President Obama’s FY 2012 Budget increases funding for this 

critical innovation.

Create a National Infrastructure Bank

The President has proposed the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank, which will provide a new way 

to leverage investments in the nation’s highest priority infrastructure projects, supplementing reformed 

formula-grant transportation programs.

Develop an advanced information technology ecosystem

Just as our physical infrastructure provided a foundation for decades of economic growth, so will 

America’s information technology ecosystem catalyze growth for decades to come. By investing in 

broadband and a modernized electric grid, securing cyberspace and ensuring the efficient use of our 

wireless spectrum, the U.S. is laying the groundwork for sustainable economic growth, well-paying jobs, 

and global competitiveness, while enabling innovations that today cannot even be imagined.

Develop a nationwide, state-of-the-art communication network

The Administration is committed to facilitating the development and deployment of a next-generation 

wireless broadband network that can reach at least 98% of Americans and enable public safety to have 

access to a nationwide and interoperable wireless network. A key component of catalyzing investment 

and innovation in state-of-the-art wireless technology is freeing up more spectrum for wireless broadband. To that end, the Administration is sharply increasing, from 50 MHz to 550 MHz, the amount of 

wireless spectrum that will be made available for commercial use. The Administration’s ten-year plan will 

avoid “spectrum crunch” and facilitate the ongoing torrent of innovation seen in smartphones, netbooks 

and tablets, and the applications that run on them.

Expand access to broadband

Approximately 100 million Americans still do not subscribe to broadband at home, leaving one-third 

of our households operating with 20th century infrastructure in a 21st century economy. The Recovery 

Act provided $6.9 billion to substantially expand broadband access for households, businesses, schools, 

libraries, public safety providers, and hospitals across America.

Modernize the electric grid

By setting standards for smart grid technologies and making information technology investments, the 

Administration is bringing the nation’s electricity grid into the 21st century to reduce energy waste. In 

particular, federal investments and policy leadership in this area serve to help consumers and utilities 

optimize the timing and sourcing of electricity use, which promises to reduce costs, increase reliability, 

and limit blackouts, while improving the security of the electricity system and enabling it to better use 

clean energy technologies.
Invest in the Building Blocks of American Innovation

★ 19 ★

Secure cyberspace

The National Security Council and Homeland Security Council have provided President Obama with a 

strategic framework to enhance cyber security. Under the leadership of the White House Cyber Security 

Coordinator, the federal government is working to secure our information infrastructure through new 

protocols, improved detection capabilities, and game-changing research and development.

Support research for next-generation information and communications technology

The Obama Administration is dedicated to keeping the U.S. on the cutting edge of IT developments.

In addition to the Administration’s support for wireless innovation, the Networking and Information 

Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program funds research in areas such as high-speed 

networks, next-generation supercomputers, cyber-physical systems, software engineering, and information management. Recently, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology has identified 

research directions that will help foster the next revolution in information technology, and transform 

health care, energy efficiency, education, and transportation.

★ 21 ★

Promote 

Market-Based Innovation

The private sector is an engine of innovation. Great ideas can come from many corners, and the capacity 

of decentralized, competitive markets to see innovative opportunities, prove their value, and enable 

their diffusion drives our economic growth and the creation of new, better jobs for the American people.

The Obama Administration is committed to providing the best possible environment for private-sector 

innovation, whether by established firms or entrepreneurs.

Accelerate business innovation with the R&E tax credit

The President has proposed to reform the way that businesses are taxed to encourage innovation and 

entrepreneurship more broadly. Any process or proposal for tax reform should address the market failure 

that the private incentive for an innovative investment typically falls short of the social interest because 

many of the innovative benefits accrue to consumers.

Make the R&E tax credit permanent

To encourage private sector innovation, the administration has proposed making the Research and 

Experimentation Tax Credit permanent, while simplifying its use and expanding its incentive payments 

by 20%. The proposal for an expanded credit will invest about $100 billion over 10 years in the form of 

foregone tax receipts to leverage additional innovation.

Promote ingenuity through effective intellectual property policy

Intellectual property (IP) rights provide critical incentives for commercial innovation. IP further allows 

new ideas to be traded between firms, finding their best uses in the marketplace, and is an important 

determinant of entrepreneurial funding. Because IP supports both innovation and entrepreneurship, 

public policy must ensure that innovators receive high-quality IP rights in a timely manner, while maintaining public access to basic discoveries and room for healthy experimentation.  

“All these investments—in innovation, education, and infrastructure—

will make America a better place to do business and create jobs. But to 

help our companies compete, we also have to knock down barriers that 

stand in the way of their success.”

—President Barack Obama, State of the Union Address, January 25, 2011
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 22 ★

Support and protect effective intellectual property rights

Our patent system faces serious challenges, with businesses and entrepreneurs now waiting an average of 35 months behind a backlog of over 700,000 patent applications. The Obama Administration is 

supporting comprehensive patent reform to slash the processing time for patent applications, enable 

applicants to fast-track their most important applications, and allow a post-grant review procedure that 

can improve patent quality. These initiatives, coupled with the 2010-2015 Strategic Plan of the U.S. Patent 

and Trademark Office, work to solve core challenges to our patent system and accelerate innovation, 

entrepreneurship, and economic growth.

Similarly, effective enforcement of intellectual property rights is essential to innovation and economic growth. In June, the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) released the 

Administration’s first plan to fight intellectual property infringement. The plan included 33 specific 

action items, spanning six broad categories, which the Administration agreed to undertake to improve 

enforcement. The Administration will continue to prioritize intellectual property enforcement and to 

support U.S. businesses and consumers through protection of intellectual property.

To promote international coordination, the United States Trade Representative has negotiated the 

Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, concluded in November 2010, which requires both a strong legal 

framework for the enforcement against counterfeit and pirated goods and promotes key practices that 

make those laws effective in reality.

Encourage high-growth and innovation-based entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship plays an essential role in generating innovation and stimulating U.S. economic growth.

New firms account for most net job growth, and small businesses employ 30% of high-tech workers. Yet 

market obstacles limit entrepreneurship, as would-be entrepreneurs struggle to raise funding without 

an established reputation or without giving ideas away. The Obama Administration is committed to 

helping entrepreneurs build vibrant businesses that lead to new jobs and economic growth.

“Now this is important because small businesses produce most of the 

new jobs in this country. They are the anchors of our Main Streets. They 

are part of the promise of America – the idea that if you’ve got a dream 

and you’re willing to work hard, you can succeed. That’s what leads a 

worker to leave a job to become her own boss. That’s what propels a 

basement inventor to sell a new product – or an amateur chef to open 

a restaurant. It’s this promise that has drawn millions to our shores and 

made our economy the envy of the world.”

—- President Obama, at the signing of the Small Business Jobs Act, 

September 27, 2010
Promote Market- Based Innovati o n 

★ 23 ★

Increase access to capital for new business

The Small Business Jobs Act (SBJA), signed by President Obama on September 27, 2010, provided an 

additional $14 billion more in lending support via the Small Business Administration and more than 

$30 billion in capital support for small business lending via the Treasury, as well as $12 billion in tax 

relief to small businesses, to help these businesses invest and create jobs. The USDA’s Business and 

Industry Guaranteed Lending Program also provides $1 billion annually and, on account of the Recovery 

Act, was able to deliver $3 billion in FY 2010 to support the financing of rural businesses. All in all, the 

Obama Administration has sought to facilitate small business development by cutting taxes on small 

businesses 17 times.

Hold a forum on facilitating access to capital for entrepreneurs

America’s preeminence in generating innovative new companies depends on open and well-functioning 

capital markets. Research indicates that American start-ups create a disproportionate share of new jobs 

and contribute significantly to economic growth. Recent trends in capital markets, however, present 

several challenges for American entrepreneurs. To evaluate relevant policy strategies, this forum will 

bring together top government officials from several agencies with experienced managers and investors 

from the private sector to assess recent trends in access to capital and its impact on entrepreneurship.

Widen America’s lead as the world’s best place for high-growth entrepreneurship

Startup America is the Administration’s sustained campaign to celebrate, inspire, and accelerate highgrowth entrepreneurship throughout the nation. This coordinated public/private effort brings together 

an alliance of the country’s most innovative entrepreneurs, corporations, universities, foundations, and 

other leaders, working in concert with a wide range of federal agencies to dramatically increase the 

prevalence and success of American entrepreneurs. The core goals of Startup America are to increase 

the number of new high-growth firms that are creating innovation and quality jobs; celebrate and 

honor entrepreneurship as a core American value and source of competitive advantage; and inspire 

and empower an ever-greater diversity of communities and individuals to build successful American 

companies. To achieve these goals, a broad set of federal agencies will launch a coordinated series 

of policies that ensure high-growth startups have unimpeded access to capital, expanded access to 

quality mentorship, an improved regulatory environment, and a rapid path to commercialization of 

federally-funded research.

Promote regional innovation clusters

Regional clusters can be significant sources of entrepreneurship, innovation, and quality jobs, and the 

root of new industries. The Administration is making substantial investments to promote regional innovation clusters that draw together industry, university, and government resources. The Small Business 

Administration’s Regional Cluster Initiative, the USDA’s Agricultural Technology Innovation Partnership 

Program, and the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficient Building Systems Innovation Cluster are all 

working to spur regional innovation engines in major technology sectors. Moreover, the Economic 

Development Administration’s i6 Challenge series encourages and rewards innovative partnership 

models that accelerate technology commercialization, new venture formation, and job creation. Finally, 
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 24 ★

the Departments of Labor and Education are aligning Workforce Investment Act training and employment programs and career and technical education with regional innovation clusters to ensure that 

clusters have the skilled workforce necessary to grow and prosper, and to connect American workers 

with good career opportunities.

Promote innovative, open, and competitive markets

Large, efficient markets attract innovative investment, and competition provides the means by which the 

best ideas spread. Historically, our strong policy against collusion and unfair practices has contributed 

to vibrant, competitive American businesses that are better equipped to compete in global markets.

America’s long-standing efforts to open foreign markets have brought our private sector greater innovation incentives and rewards. Well-functioning capital markets have historically made our country a 

leading place to invest, bringing scarce capital to the best ideas and fueling American ingenuity.

Protect and enable competition

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have developed new 

Horizontal Merger Guidelines, issued in August 2010. The new Guidelines include, for the first time, a 

section explaining how the DOJ and FTC assess whether a merger is likely to retard innovation.

Improve regulation and regulatory review

In January 2011, President Obama issued an Executive Order to improve regulation and the regulatory 

review process. Under this Executive Order, the President required federal agencies to design costeffective, evidence-based regulations that are compatible with economic growth, job creation, and 

competitiveness. The Order emphasizes the principles of public participation, integration and innovation, flexible approaches, and scientific integrity. It also includes a provision on retrospective review, 

which asks agencies to submit a preliminary plan within 120 days to determine whether any regulations 

should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed so as to make the agency’s regulatory program 

more effective or less burdensome.

Ensure an open Internet that protects consumers and enables innovation

President Obama is strongly committed to an open Internet that protects consumers and innovation.

To that same end, the FCC has acted to preserve that openness so that users and innovators are able 

to compete on the merits and not face anticompetitive barriers imposed by incumbent broadband 

providers. More generally, the Department of Commerce has outlined a path forward to protect Internet 

privacy, and the Administration has established an interagency effort to guide and address critical policy 

issues in the Internet environment, including openness, privacy protections, and cybersecurity concerns.

Promote American exports

In March 2010, President Obama launched the National Export Initiative (NEI), an ambitious effort to 

help American businesses that sell their goods and services abroad. By unlocking foreign markets for 

U.S. goods and services, improving access to credit for U.S. businesses, and undertaking other measures, 

the NEI seeks to double U.S. exports in five years and support millions of additional jobs.
★ 25 ★

Catalyze Breakthroughs for 

National Priorities

In areas of well-defined national importance, public investments can help catalyze advances, leveraging 

key breakthroughs and U.S. leadership. The 21st century brings several critical areas – including energy, 

bio- and nanotechnology, space capabilities, health care, and education – where the demand for breakthroughs is clear. The Administration’s Strategy for American Innovation will harness public mechanisms 

to help meet our common goals, sparking commercial innovations and American ingenuity as we seek 

to meet the grand challenges of the next century and add impressive new chapters to the history of 

American progress.

Unleash a clean energy revolution

For our national security, economy, and environment, it is crucial to develop clean energy technologies.

President Obama is committed to U.S. leadership in the energy economy of the future. The President’s 

strategy will meet our energy goals and put the U.S. at the cutting edge of the renewable energy, 

advanced battery, alternative fuel, and advanced vehicle industries.

Double the nation’s supply of renewable energy by the end of 2012

The Administration is committed to doubling the supply of renewable energy by the end of 2012. Federal 

tax credits and financing support, including the Section 1603 and Section 48C programs, have leveraged 

the manufacture and deployment of gigawatts of new renewable energy investments in innovative 

solar, wind, and geothermal energy technologies. Aided by these incentives, electricity generation from 

renewables (excluding conventional hydropower) is projected to surpass twice its 2008 level, meeting 

the Administration’s goal.

Spur innovation through new energy standards

The President has set a national goal of generating 80% of the nation’s electricity from clean sources 

by 2035. The proposed Clean Energy Standard will mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars in private 

investment, spur the deployment of clean energy technologies, and create market demand for new 

“Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch 

of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we would beat them 

to the moon. The science wasn’t even there yet. NASA didn’t exist. But 

after investing in better research and education, we didn’t just surpass the 

Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries 

and millions of new jobs. This is our generation’s Sputnik moment.”

—President Barack Obama, State of the Union Address, January 25, 2010
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 26 ★

innovations. The Administration is also working to meet the renewable fuel mandate set by Congress, 

which requires the use of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2022. The EPA finalized a rule to implement the Renewable Fuel Standard on February 3, 2010, and the Growing America’s Fuels strategy 

focuses on a number of the innovations that will help us achieve that goal.

Create Energy Innovation Hubs

Bringing together scientists and innovative thinkers from different disciplines to form highly-integrated 

research teams can create research breakthroughs on tough problems. The Administration established 

three Energy Innovation Hubs in FY 2010 to tackle challenges in nuclear energy modeling, energy 

efficiency in buildings, and the generation of fuel from sunlight. The Administration’s FY 2012 Budget 

calls for doubling the number of Energy Innovation Hubs, from three to six, to tackle additional energy 

challenges.

Invest in clean energy solutions

The Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has awarded nearly 

$400 million to more than 100 research projects that seek fundamental breakthroughs in energy technologies. The President’s FY 2012 Budget proposes to expand support for ARPA-E.

Promote energy efficient industries

The Administration is spurring private sector innovation through new fuel efficiency and greenhouse 

gas emissions standards, with new efforts to develop standards over the 2017-2025 model years for light 

vehicles and new standards over medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. As the single largest energy consumer 

in the U.S. economy, government procurement provides an additional, important mechanism to catalyze 

demand for innovative energy technologies. In October 2009, President Obama signed an Executive Order 

that calls on agencies to cut the federal government’s fleet petroleum use by 30% by 2020.

Invest in Advanced Vehicle Technology

The President’s FY 2012 Budget proposes to make the United States the world’s leader in manufacturing 

and deploying next-generation vehicle technologies, expanding funding for vehicle technologies by 

almost 90% to nearly $590 million and enhancing existing tax incentives. Recovery Act and prior year 

investments are already making progress on advanced technology vehicles through research initiatives 

like an ARPA-E grant to develop a battery that will go 300 miles on a single charge. The FY 2012 Budget 

will significantly broaden R&D investments in technologies like batteries and electric drives – including 

an over 30% increase in support for vehicle technology R&D and a new Energy Innovation Hub devoted 

to improving batteries and energy storage for vehicles and beyond. In addition, the President is proposing to transform the existing $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles into a rebate that will be available to 

all consumers immediately at the point of sale.
Catalyze Breakthroughs for National Prioriti es

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Accelerate biotechnology, nanotechnology, and advanced manufacturing

The emerging fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology may provide major new platforms for 

economic growth in the years and decades ahead while providing potentially profound advances in 

health. The Administration is committed to nurturing these promising fields.

Complete DNA sequencing for major diseases and drive sequencing innovations

Administration investments will lend a new level of insight into disease that was previously unattainable, 

while driving down the cost of DNA sequencing. As an extraordinary example of the promise afforded 

by the Recovery Act, the Administration is investing in the sequencing of over 1,800 complete genomes, 

a more than 50-fold increase over the 34 genomes that have been sequenced to date by non-Recovery 

Act NIH funding. This effort has the potential to provide critical insight into major diseases while also driving down sequencing costs. The Administration, through NIH, is also leading The Cancer Genome Atlas 

(TCGA), the largest and most comprehensive analysis of the molecular basis of cancer ever undertaken, 

which may unleash new possibilities for cancer treatment, diagnosis and personalized care.

Create nanotechnology solutions

The National Nanotechnology Initiative is investing in particularly promising nanotechnology areas.

Advances in nanotechnology can drive economic growth, create quality jobs, and address a broad range 

of national challenges. Examples of potential nanotechnology applications include smart anti-cancer 

therapeutics that target tumors without the devastating side effects of chemotherapy, solar cells as 

cheap as paint, and the next revolution in computing. Building on basic science advances, companies 

are already offering nanotechnology-enabled products with breakthrough capabilities in areas such as 

disease detection, lighter and stronger materials, and next-generation batteries.

Launch breakthrough technologies for advanced manufacturing

The Administration is investing in breakthrough research for manufacturing technologies that can 

provide the foundation for future economic growth and competitiveness. The FY 2012 Budget increases 

investments at key science agencies, including the NSF, NIST laboratories, the Department of Energy 

Office of Science, and DARPA, to support U.S. leadership in developing advanced manufacturing 

technologies. The FY 2012 Budget also proposes to initiate the Advanced Manufacturing Technology 

Consortia program, a public-private partnership that will improve manufacturing R&D investments and 

accelerate innovations’ time to market.
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 28 ★

Develop breakthrough space capabilities and applications

Space technologies warn us of natural disasters, enable worldwide communications, facilitate global 

commerce, enhance our global navigation and position location capabilities, and contribute to our 

national security. The President is committed to continuing U.S. leadership in this arena by strengthening 

our space-related science and technology R&D initiatives, enhancing mutually beneficial international 

cooperation efforts, improving the state of the U.S. space industrial base, and taking steps to enable a 

robust, innovative, and competitive commercial space sector.

The Administration is dedicated to developing the next generation of space vehicles and innovative 

uses of the International Space Station (ISS) by working with the private sector to expand American 

industry’s role. The Administration is also committed to advancing U.S. capabilities in other space sectors, 

including a new generation of global positioning satellites and services that allow advanced navigation and timing applications, which can be a platform for further innovation in many sectors, including 

agriculture, communications, air travel, and highway safety. The Administration will also continue and 

improve a broad array of programs of space-based observation, research, and analysis of the Earth’s 

land, oceans, and atmosphere.

Drive breakthroughs in health care technology

The inefficiencies in our health care system raise costs and reduce the quality of care. Information technology has the potential to revolutionize our health care systems, creating technological platforms to 

reduce costs, reduce errors, and increase the quality of care. By breaking down barriers between health 

service providers, health IT can integrate our health markets to attract scalable, competitively tested 

private sector innovation.

Box 3: The Growing Fields of Nanotechnology and Personalized Medicine

A nanometer is a billionth of a meter – or one hundred thousand times smaller than the diameter of a human 

hair. Nanotechnology promises to transform multiple industries: capturing and storing clean energy, developing next-generation computer chips, allowing early detection of diseases, creating smart anti-cancer 

therapeutics that deliver drugs only to tumor cells, and enabling all-new approaches to a wide range of 

manufacturing activities, among many other examples. While the commercial impact of nanotechnology 

to date has been limited primarily to nanomaterials applied to a range of consumer goods from health care 

and food products to textiles, automotive composites and industrial coatings, nanotechnology innovation is 

beginning to accelerate. The ten-year history of U.S. leadership in fundamental nanotechnology research and 

development under the National Nanotechnology Initiative has laid the crucial groundwork for developing 

commercial applications and scaling up production, creating demand for many new nanotechnology and 

manufacturing jobs in the near-term.

Nanotechnology is being applied in the developing medical engineering and personalized medicine industries. The practice of tailoring medical treatment to an individual’s unique genetic make-up makes not only 

treatment, but early detection and prevention, more effective. It also reduces medical costs in cases where 

expensive treatments are unnecessary or futile. Researchers are currently experimenting with nanotechnology to develop drugs capable of targeting a disease without triggering the body’s natural immune response.
Catalyze Breakthroughs for National Prioriti es

★ 29 ★

Expand the use of health IT

The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology is promoting health 

IT adoption through numerous initiatives. These efforts include programs to accelerate adoption of 

Electronic Health Records, to develop standards for health information exchange over the Internet, and 

to develop mobile health technologies. In addition, the Strategic Health IT Advanced Research Projects 

(SHARP) Program funds potentially game-changing advances to address well-documented problems 

that have impeded adoption of health IT.

Enable innovation in medical technologies and medical care

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working to accelerate the development of medical device 

technologies. In June 2009, the FDA launched a “Transparency Initiative” which will improve the market’s 

understanding of the approval process and encourage innovation. In January 2010, the FDA announced 

the creation of the Council on Medical Device Innovation, designed to encourage innovations that 

will address unmet public health needs. The multi-agency council will facilitate medical technology 

innovations by identifying the most important unmet public health needs, delineating the barriers 

to the development of technologies to treat these needs, and addressing obstacles to patient access.

Over time, the Affordable Care Act will reduce costs throughout the health care system by reducing 

waste, limiting overpayments, and improving incentives for physicians, hospitals, and other providers 

to focus on the quality of care rather than the volume and price of care. These cost containment strategies will provide strong incentive for process and technology innovations that improve the delivery 

of health services and lower costs. Projections by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services find 

that the law will reduce the annualized growth rate of Medicare spending between 2012 and 2019 by 

1.4 percentage points.

Create a quantum leap in educational technologies

To maintain America’s economic competitiveness, we must dramatically improve our education system 

in a relatively short period. This challenge is exacerbated by the resource limitations imposed by the 

current economic environment and the historically persistent cost increases of the education system.

Innovation must be a core building block of our nation’s drive to implement new education strategies 

and systems.

Advance development of educational technologies

There is growing evidence that technology can improve learning outcomes and reduce the time needed 

for students to gain new skills. With relatively widespread access to broadband, cloud computing, 

digital devices, and software, the technological conditions are increasingly ripe for the development of 

advanced educational technologies. The Administration is working to promote educational technology 

innovations through the Department of Education’s National Educational Technology Plan, the National 

Science Foundation’s “Cyberlearning Transforming Education” initiative, and various DARPA, Department 

of Energy, NOAA, and U.S. Navy programs. To catalyze the development and commercialization of 

transformative educational technologies, the Administration is supporting the launch of an ARPA-ED 

in FY 2012, building on successful models used by the DOD and DOE.

★ 31 ★

Appendix A: 

Invest in the Building Blocks 

of American Innovation

Contents

Educate Americans with 21st Century skills and create a world-class workforce

Improve America’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education

Reform elementary and secondary education

Restore America to first in the world in college attainment

Create a first-class system of early education

Strengthen and broaden American leadership in fundamental research

Enact the largest R&D increase in our nation’s history

Set national goal to invest three percent of GDP in R&D

Build a leading physical infrastructure

Fulfill a new transportation vision with high-speed rail

Develop the next generation of air traffic control

Create a National Infrastructure Bank

Develop an advanced information technology ecosystem

Develop a nationwide, state-of-the-art communication network

Expand access to broadband

Modernize the electric grid

Secure cyberspace

Support research for next-generation information and communications technology
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 32 ★

Educate Americans with 21st century skills and create a world-class 

workforce

Improve America’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education

The President is determined to improve the participation and performance of America’s students in 

science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. To that end, the President has pledged to prepare 

an additional 100,000 STEM teachers by the end of the decade, with strong teaching skills and deep 

content knowledge. Moreover, as part of this commitment, President Obama launched the Educate to 

Innovate campaign on November 23, 2009 (See Box 4). The goals of the Educate to Innovate campaign 

are three-fold:

• Increase STEM literacy so that all students can learn deeply and think critically in science, math, 

engineering, and technology.

• Move American students from the middle of the pack to the top in the next decade.

• Expand STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented groups, including 

women and girls.

Box 4: The Government as a Partner in Educate to Innovate

One of the key roles of government in promoting innovation is to convene the relevant stakeholders and 

catalyze partnerships to achieve common goals. President Obama’s Educate to Innovate campaign is an 

example of this kind of partnership, where the Administration, leading private sector firms, foundations, 

and nonprofits are working together to promote science and math education across America.

Recent trends indicate that despite many high quality schools, effective teachers, and successful students, 

American schoolchildren are falling behind in math and science. In the 2009 Programme for International 

Student Assessment (PISA), American students placed 17th out of 34 in science and 25th out of 34 in math 

among developed nations. Our own 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found that 

American 4th graders and 8th graders have shown little or no progress in math scores over the last decade.

Educate to Innovate aims to increase STEM literacy and help American students move from the middle to 

the top of the pack of international performance in STEM. In addition, the campaign aims to broaden STEM 

education and career opportunities for underrepresented groups.

The President’s campaign has already resulted in over $700 million in financial and in-kind support for 

STEM programs. The President’s “all hands on deck” call to improve STEM education has galvanized industry, universities, foundations, science and technology centers, libraries, and science and engineering professionals to do more. The private sector is responding not just with financial support, but with commitments 

that take advantage of their core competencies and the skills and passion of their employees. Over 100 

CEOs have come together to launch Change the Equation, a historic effort to scale up effective models for 

improving STEM education. The President has also personally helped raise the visibility of STEM by holding 

the first ever White House Science Fair, meeting with students who are developing cancer therapies, water 

purification systems, and robotic wheelchairs.
Appendix A: Invest in the Building Blocks of American Innovati o n 

★ 33 ★

Backup Documents: Prepare and inspire: K-12 education in stem for America’s future, Supporting STEM 

Factsheet, Educate to Innovate Homepage

Reform elementary and secondary education

Investment in education must be accompanied by reform and innovation. The Administration is fostering a Race to the Top initiative in our nation’s schools, supporting new, state-of-the-art assessment and 

accountability systems that provide timely and useful information about the progress of individual 

students. The Administration is also devoted to ensuring that teachers are supported as professionals 

in the classroom, while also holding them to high professional standards.

• The Race to the Top program uses competitive grants to encourage systematic state and local 

reform and significantly improve student outcomes. Following its creation with a $4.35 billion 

allocation in the Recovery Act, the Administration has asked for an additional phase of Race 

to the Top, in response to the interest demonstrated by states and the meaningful changes 

states are undertaking. The new competition would place a particular focus on cost-effective 

reforms that improve student achievement in an era of tight budgets and allow school districts 

to compete directly for funds.

• The Investing in Innovation program provides grants to school districts and to nonprofit organizations working with school districts to validate or scale up educational strategies for which 

there is strong evidence of improving educational outcomes, or to develop and test promising 

practices for which there is potential but whose efficacy has not yet been systematically studied.

• The Administration is working with Congress to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary 

Education Act with a new approach. This Act (as most recently reauthorized by the No Child Left 

Behind Act) is the major federal law regarding K-12 education. The Administration’s Blueprint 

for Reform will create a context for innovation by ensuring that states set clear, high standards 

that meaningfully signify readiness for college and a career.

• The President’s FY 2012 Budget includes funding to support School Turnaround Grants, which 

will support vigorous interventions for 5,000 of the nation’s lowest-performing schools over 

the next five years, designed to drive change, improve student achievement, and transform 

school culture.

Backup documents: Race to the Top executive summary, Race to the Top legislation and regulations, Phase 

1 applications, scores, and comments, Phase 2 applications, Phase 2 finalist press release, President Obama’s 

announcement of the FY11 Budget request for $1.35B–“Speeding up the Race to the Top”, Department of 

Education–Resources About ESEA Reauthorization, Current ESEA language, A Blueprint for Reform, Research 

Behind the Obama Administration’s Proposal for Reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education 

Act (ESEA). President Obama Announces Steps to Reduce Dropout Rate and Prepare Students for College 

and Careers, FY2011 Budget Factsheet–Department of Education

Restore America to first in the world in college attainment

President Obama is committed to ensuring that America will again have the highest proportion of students graduating from college in the world by 2020. To accomplish this goal, the President is committed 
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 34 ★

to increasing higher education access and success by restructuring and expanding college financial 

aid, by improving opportunities at community colleges, by encouraging partnerships with the public 

workforce system, and by leveraging business and nonprofit investments in our workforce.

• The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (HCERA), signed in March 2010, makes all federal loans—Stafford loans, PLUS loans, and consolidation loans—available directly to students, 

ending wasteful subsidies once paid to third-party administrators. By saving a projected $68 billion in subsidies over the next 11 years, the direct loan program allows for deficit reduction while 

also increasing college affordability. In addition to provisions in the Recovery Act, provisions of 

the HCERA invest more than $40 billion in the Pell Grant program. Pell Grants can be applied 

toward traditional college expenses as well as to vocational and adult education programs.

• Through the $2 billion Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training 

Grant Program, the Administration is investing in community colleges and other institutions 

of higher education to help expand and improve their ability to deliver education and career 

training programs that will prepare participants for employment in high-wage, high-skill 

occupations. The Program is designed to have a lasting impact on higher education by building 

on evidence-based strategies, testing innovative approaches, and using data collection and 

evaluation to build knowledge about which strategies help students succeed. Furthermore, 

the National Science Foundation is investing in community colleges through its Advanced 

Technological Education program.

• President Obama has established the Task Force on Skills for America’s Future to build better 

partnerships between businesses, community colleges, and other training providers to get 

Americans trained for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

In bolstering higher education, the Administration also recognizes an important obligation to support 

educational institutions that provide opportunity to students in the rural heartland of America.

Backup documents: Reforming Student Loans, Paving the Road to Opportunity, Investing in Pell Grants to 

Make College Affordable, Building American Skills Through Community Colleges, Presidential Memorandum–

Task Force on Skills for America’s Future, President Obama to Announce Launch of Skills for America’s Future, 

Skills for America’s Future

Create a first-class system of early education

Quality early education is an important component in closing achievement gaps and helping every 

child reach his or her full potential. The Administration has an ambitious agenda for raising quality by 

measuring performance, setting standards, and spurring innovation.

• The Child Care and Development Block Grant provides funding to states for child care subsidy 

programs. Under the Administration’s reform principles, states would remain the key policymakers for child care programs but would be encouraged to set higher standards for child care 

programs and establish quality rating improvement systems so that parents can make informed 

choices and providers have incentives to improve.
Appendix A: Invest in the Building Blocks of American Innovati o n 

★ 35 ★

• Head Start provides early education to nearly one million low-income preschoolers, infants, 

and toddlers. For Head Start to fulfill its mission of providing low-income children the “head 

start” they need to succeed in school, lower-performing grantees either need to improve their 

performance or be replaced with more successful grantees. The Administration is moving 

forward with an ambitious plan to better measure classroom quality in Head Start Programs 

and inject competition into the program by requiring lower quality programs to compete for 

continued funding.

• States have been engaged in K-12 innovation for years, but less attention has been paid at 

the state level to examining early education and finding ways to set common standards and 

measure performance across programs. The Early Learning Challenge Fund is meant to foster 

reform in early education and develop models for early education that can be replicated across 

the country.

Backup documents: Head Start Roadmap to Excellence, HHS Announces Centers for Excellence, Early 

Learning Challenge Fund, Department of Education’s Early Learning Homepage

Strengthen and broaden American leadership in fundamental research

Enact the largest R&D increase in our nation’s history

The Administration has made the largest annual increase in research and development in American history, drawing on $18.3 billion in research funding from the Recovery Act. The President’s FY 2012 Budget 

continues to emphasize investments in basic research and delivers on the President’s commitment to 

double funding for three key basic research agencies—the National Science Foundation, the Department 

of Energy’s Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology laboratories. These 

investments will expand the frontiers of human knowledge and create the foundation for our future 

industries and jobs, helping establish U.S. leadership in new bio-, info-, and nanotechnologies in addition 

to specific areas such as robotics and “materials by design.”

Backup documents: American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, Budget Factsheet–Investing in 

Innovation to Create the Industries and Jobs of Tomorrow

Set national goal to invest three percent of GDP in R&D

The President has set a goal for America to invest more than three percent of our GDP in public and 

private research and development. This investment rate will surpass the level achieved at the height of 

the space race, and can be achieved through policies that support basic and applied research, create 

new incentives for private innovation, promote breakthroughs in national priority areas, and improve 

STEM education.  

Backup documents: Remarks by the President at the National Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, 

Remarks by the President on the Economy at Carnegie Mellon University
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 36 ★

Build a leading physical infrastructure

Fulfill a new transportation vision with high-speed rail

President Obama has set the ambitious goal of connecting 80% of Americans to the high-speed rail 

system within 25 years. To accomplish this he proposes sustained investments that build on the Recovery 

Act and would help create an efficient, high-speed passenger rail network of 100- to 600-mile intercity 

corridors that will better connect communities across America. This vision builds on the successful 

traditional highway and aviation development models with a 21st century solution that focuses on a 

clean, energy-efficient option.

Backup documents: President Obama, Vice President Biden Announce $8 Billion for High-Speed Rail Projects 

across the Country, Vision for High Speed Rail in America

Develop the next generation of air traffic control

The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is a comprehensive overhaul of our national 

airspace system. NextGen will make air travel more convenient and dependable for passengers, 

significantly reducing flight delays and increasing airport capacity, while making flights more energyefficient, safe, and secure. Recognizing the importance of NextGen for our economic prosperity, our 

environment, and our national security, President Obama’s FY 2012 Budget increases funding for this 

critical innovation.

Backup documents: NextGen Homepage

Create a National Infrastructure Bank

The President has proposed the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank, which will provide a new way 

to leverage investments in the nation’s highest priority infrastructure projects, supplementing reformed 

formula-grant transportation programs. The proposal marks an important complement to traditional 

federal investment in infrastructure, as the Bank will base its investment decisions on clear analytical 

measures, selecting those projects with the greatest return for American taxpayers and leveraging 

private, state, and local dollars to complete projects as efficiently as possible. The Bank will also promote 

multi-modal projects, which currently face significant obstacles and bureaucratic delays due to the 

narrow focus of existing programs that fund specific infrastructure modes.

Backup documents: President Obama Announces Plan to Renew and Expand America’s Roadways
Appendix A: Invest in the Building Blocks of American Innovati o n 

★ 37 ★

Develop an advanced information technology ecosystem

Develop a nationwide, state-of-the-art communication network 

The wireless revolution provides great promise for America’s future economic prosperity, and the 

President has announced a plan to help businesses extend the next generation of wireless services to 

at least 98% of Americans. This Wireless Initiative will enable businesses to grow faster, students to learn 

more, and public safety officials to access secure, nationwide, and interoperable mobile communications.

America’s ability to maintain its global technology leadership hinges critically on the availability of 

spectrum, as it is the currency of the wireless broadband revolution. Hints of what this revolution has to 

offer – smartphones, netbooks, and the applications that run on them – are beginning to make their way 

into American consumer consciousness. However, this promise is threatened by a “spectrum crunch,” a 

crowding of the airwaves used to transfer information wirelessly. Experts believe that the United States 

will require hundreds of MHz of spectrum in coming years, but we only have 50 MHz in the pipeline for 

commercial use.

Globally, countries are moving aggressively to promote innovation in the wireless field; the United 

States must develop our digital infrastructure if we hope to maintain our edge in the ecosystems of 

networks, technologies, products and applications. President Obama catalyzed this effort by signing a 

Presidential Memorandum committing the federal government to make available 500 MHz of federal 

and commercial spectrum over the next 10 years to foster investment and economic growth, and to 

help create jobs in these new, high-value industries. NTIA released, in November of 2010, a ten-year 

plan to free up this spectrum and also issued its fast-track report that identified 115 MHz that could be 

repurposed for wireless broadband.

Backup documents: Presidential Memorandum: Unleashing the Wireless Broadband Revolution, Fact Sheet: 

Doubling the Amount of Commercial Spectrum to Unleash the Innovative Potential of Wireless Broadband, 

Speech Text–Technological Opportunities, Job Creation, and Economic Growth, Plan and Timetable to Make 

Available 500 Megahertz of Spectrum for Wireless Broadband, An Assessment of the Near-Term Viability of 

Accommodating Wireless Broadband Systems, NTIA Fact Sheet on Spectrum Plan and Time Table–Fast Track 

evaluation

“If transportation infrastructure was and remains a key source of 

competitive advantage in the industrial economy, digital infrastructure 

will be a key source of competitive advantage in the knowledge economy. 

There is no policy step more important for the digital infrastructure than 

assuring that scarce spectrum is efficiently allocated.”

—Lawrence Summers, Director, National Economic Council, June 28, 2010
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 38 ★

Expand access to broadband

The American broadband ecosystem has advanced rapidly. In 2000, only eight million Americans had 

broadband at home; by 2009, that number had grown to 200 million.6 But more needs to be done.

Approximately 100 million Americans still do not subscribe to broadband at home.7 They are operating 

with 20th century infrastructure in a 21st century economy. The Recovery Act provided $6.9 billion to 

substantially expand broadband access for households, businesses, schools, public safety providers, 

and hospitals across rural America (See Box 5).

Backup documents: The Recovery Act–Transforming the American Economy Through Innovation, Vice 

President Biden Announces Recovery Act Investments in Broadband Projects to Bring Jobs, Economic 

Opportunity to Communities Nationwide, Recovery Act Investments In Broadband: Leveraging Federal Dollars 

To Create Jobs And Connect America, List of Recovery Act Broadband Awards, Broadband USA

Modernize the electric grid

The Administration is currently taking steps to help modernize our nation’s electric grid. For example, 

the Department of Energy is accelerating the development and deployment of advanced electric grid 

and digital communications technologies, and grid-scale energy storage projects, through the Smart 

Grid Investment Grant and Demonstration programs with $4.2 billion in Recovery Act Funds. As part 

of this grid modernization effort, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is leading 

a public-private initiative to develop a framework and roadmap to develop smart grid interoperability 

standards. The Recovery Act funding is being leveraged with more than $5.5 billion in private sector 

6.  Federal Communications Commission, “Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan (NBP),” xi.

7.  Ibid.

Box 5: Government Investment In 21st Century Infrastructure: The Case of Broadband

The government can promote innovation by investing in 21st Century infrastructure. The Recovery Act 

made key investments in rural broadband to reduce the disparities between urban and rural access to 

high speed Internet. Through a combination of grants and loans, the Department of Commerce’s National 

Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural 

Utilities Service (RUS) provided over $7 billion to fund broadband projects across the nation. NTIA funded 

“middle mile” projects in underserved or unserved areas, many of which are rural, and focused on expanding public computer center capacity and spurring adoption of broadband service. RUS focused on projects 

that promote rural economic development and job creation beyond the construction and operation of the 

facilities themselves.

These investments will connect Americans to emerging opportunities in the service economy, including 

call centers and software development, which are particularly likely to rely on broadband access. Beyond 

service industries, broadband access can support existing businesses as they maintain customer relationships, track pricing, and manage inventories more effectively. Broadband connections can help small 

business owners – especially home-based businesses, which are more common in rural areas – reach 

new markets. Finally, rural broadband has especially important benefits for online education and training 

programs and health care delivery.
Appendix A: Invest in the Building Blocks of American Innovati o n 

★ 39 ★

funds to deploy a wide spectrum of advanced grid technologies across the nation’s transmission and 

distribution system and into consumer premises. For example, to improve system reliability, several of the 

Recovery Act smart grid projects involve the installation of more than 800 transmission system sensors, 

or “Phasor Measurement Units,” that can alert grid operators and help prevent minor disturbances from 

cascading into large outages. Recovery Act funds will help install enough of these sensors to provide 

near 100% coverage in parts of the country’s bulk power transmission system (See Figure 1). To oversee 

these initiatives and others, the Administration is collaborating with state public utility commissions, 

consumer groups, electric utilities, equipment manufacturers, and industry leaders to advance and 

develop a more cost-effective, flexible, and secure national electricity system.

Figure 1

Backup documents: Smart Grid Homepage, NIST Smart Grid Homepage, NIST Framework and Roadmap 

for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards–Release 1.0, FERC–National Action Plan on Demand Response, 

National Science and Technology Council Establishes Subcommittee on Smart Grid

Secure cyberspace

The National Security Council and Homeland Security Council have provided President Obama with a 

strategic framework to enhance cyber security. Under the leadership of the White House Cyber Security 

Coordinator, the federal government is working to secure our information infrastructure through new 

protocols, improved detection capabilities, and game-changing research and development, including:
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 40 ★

• A framework for game-changing research and development focused on three key themes: 

moving-target systems, security tailored to the needs of a particular transaction, and incentives 

that reward good cybersecurity.

• Better detection of vulnerabilities and management of security systems using automated 

and constantly updated tools that offer enterprises of all sizes the ability to better update 

security compliance efforts at potentially lower costs and pave the way for future automated 

protocols.

• The Administration is leading the way in better securing the Internet’s Domain Name System 

(DNS). The United States, working with the Internet technical community, deployed a new 

security technology–domain name system security (DNSSEC)–in the authoritative DNS root.

GSA and DHS have also worked to ensure that the “.gov” domain adopts better security practices, 

including deployment of DNSSEC. In addition, NTIA approved the implementation of DNSSEC 

within the U.S. top-level domain (.us) and the domain used by academic institutions (.edu).

Backup documents: Cyberspace Policy Review–Final Report, Fact Sheet: Cybersecurity Progress after 

President Obama’s Address, Networking Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) GameChange R&D Recommendations, Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) Validated Products, NTIA’s 

DNSSEC Page, National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE)

Support research for next-generation information and communications technology

In addition to specific projects on broadband, smart grid and cybersecurity, the Administration is 

supporting basic research that will foster future revolutions in information technology. These investments are coordinated through the multi-agency Networking and Information Technology Research 

and Development (NITRD) Program, which supports research in areas such as high-speed networks, 

next-generation supercomputers, cyber-physical systems, software engineering, and information 

management.

A recent review of the NITRD program by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology 

has identified exciting research directions that will advance information technology and address critical 

national challenges in health, energy, education and transportation. The President’s FY 2012 Budget 

addresses these recommendations with support for research that will dramatically improve our ability 

to collect, store, manage and analyze the huge volumes of data that many science and engineering 

disciplines are now generating.

Backup documents: NITRD Homepage, PCAST Report
★ 41 ★

Appendix B: 

Promote Market-Based Innovation

Contents

Accelerate business innovation with the R&E Tax Credit

Make the R&E tax credit permanent

Promote ingenuity through effective intellectual property policy

Support and protect effective intellectual property rights

Encourage high-growth and innovation-based entrepreneurship

Increase access to capital for new business

Hold a forum on facilitating access to capital for entrepreneurs

Widen America’s lead as the world’s best place for high-growth entrepreneurship

Promote regional innovation clusters

Promote innovative, open, and competitive markets

Protect and enable competition

Improve regulation and regulatory review

Ensure an open Internet that protects consumers and enables innovation

Promote American exports
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 42 ★

Accelerate business innovation with the R&E tax credit

Make the R&E tax credit permanent

Expanding, simplifying, and permanently extending the Research and Experimentation tax credit will 

help companies create good jobs in America now while increasing future productivity and growth. It 

will also encourage companies to invest in technological development here in America in ways that, 

while not captured on a company’s bottom line, will contribute to our country’s innovative capacity. This 

is a win-win—encouraging job growth and investment now that will pay off with stronger economic 

growth in the future. Specifically, the President’s proposal would:

• Expand the R&E tax credit by about 20 percent. This would be the largest increase in the 

credit in its history. In total, the expanded credit would devote about $100 billion over the next 

10 years to leverage additional R&D investment.

• Simplify the credit. The Administration proposes to increase the rate of the simpler credit to 

17%, which would make it more attractive and simplify tax filing for businesses. Simplifying 

the credit in this manner will increase its salience and impact on encouraging investment in 

research in the United States.

• Make the credit permanent. The President would make the credit permanent so that businesses could make investments, create jobs today, and be confident that they will continue to 

benefit from the credit in the future.

Backup documents: R&E tax credit proposal–factsheet

Promote ingenuity through effective intellectual property policy

Support and protect effective intellectual property rights

• Optimize Patent Quality and Timeliness | Department of Commerce and USPTO

Timely prosecuted, high-quality patents drive innovation and protect creativity. By contrast, delay, uncertainty, poor quality, and costly litigation are obstacles to innovation and creativity. Under the leadership 

of United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the Obama Administration has embarked on a 

multi-year initiative to enhance quality for all and allow speedier examination for those patent applicants 

who need it, in order to increase the value of the country’s entire IP system.

In the past year, USPTO has taken several significant initial steps. For instance, it revised the patent 

examiner production reward system to increase efficiency, decrease re-work, and support high-quality 

search and examination. In addition, the USPTO has adopted new, more comprehensive procedures 

for measuring the quality of patent examination, beginning a process to reengineer the entire patent 

examination process from the time an application is filed to the patent decision. These efforts coincide 

with the redesign of the agency’s IT infrastructure, which, when complete, will support state-of-the-art 

work-flow capabilities. The agency also plans to hire more than 1,000 new examiners in the coming two 

fiscal years in order to increase production capacity.
Appendix B: Promote Market- Based Innovati o n 

★ 43 ★

There are further time-saving and quality-enhancing strategies in development that require necessary 

public investments. The Obama Administration is supporting comprehensive patent reform legislation 

coupled with the development of a sustainable funding model for the USPTO. Innovative programs 

like the Enhanced Examination Timing Control Initiative (“Three Track”) will provide applicants greater 

control over when their applications are examined and enhance work sharing among IP offices. USPTO 

administrative actions and Administration amicus brief filings can help refine patent law doctrines to 

increase patent quality. To that end, the USPTO, for the first time in its history, has adopted guidelines for 

examiners addressing Section 112 of the Patent Act, which governs the “written description and enablement requirements,” to improve patent quality by more clearly defining the subject matter protected by 

a patent grant. Other strategic priorities are included in the USPTO 2010-1015 Strategic Plan, including 

an ambitious joint goal set by Commerce Secretary Locke and Director Kappos to reduce the average 

total pendency for a patent application to 20 months from today’s 35 month figure.

Backup documents: USPTO 2010-2015 Strategic Plan, USPTO Public Roundtable on “Three Track” 

Patent Examination, USPTO is Hiring Patent Examiners, USPTO Adopts New Patent Examination Quality 

Measurement Procedures.

• Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) | The White House

The PRO-IP Act created the position of U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC), placing it within the Executive Office of the President. President Barack Obama nominated, and the Senate 

confirmed, Victoria Espinel as the first IPEC in late 2009. On June 22, 2010, the IPEC released the Obama 

Administration’s first Joint Strategic Plan to combat intellectual property infringement (JSP). The JSP was 

the result of significant input from America’s innovators – including more than 1,600 public comments 

on ways to improve enforcement – as well as the collaborative efforts of the Departments of Agriculture, 

Commerce, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, and State, and of White House 

Offices, including the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Trade Representative.

The JSP included 33 action items designed to improve U.S. Government efforts to help protect America’s 

innovation and, thereby, the exports and jobs that come from that innovation. Those action items fell 

within six broad categories:

1. The U.S. Government will lead by example, respecting intellectual property rights in our policy 

and our practices.

2. The U.S. Government will be transparent in our policymaking and enforcement, allowing 

America’s innovators and the public to know what the U.S. Government is doing to help enforce 

their intellectual property rights, and to have input in those efforts.

3. The U.S. Government will work to ensure efficiency and coordination, both domestically with 

our federal law enforcement agencies and state and local law enforcement, and internationally 

with our embassies.

4. The U.S. Government will help enforce our innovators’ rights overseas, ensuring that we are able 

to effectively work with foreign governments when their citizens are infringing U.S. intellectual 

property rights (just as we want to effectively work with foreign governments when our citizens 

are infringing foreign intellectual property rights).
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 44 ★

5. The U.S. Government will focus on securing our supply chain, thereby attempting to limit 

infringing products from entering the U.S. That includes working with Internet service providers, 

payment processors, advertisers and others to help combat the use of infringing websites to 

steal America’s innovation. In doing so, we will ensure that our efforts are focused on repeated 

acts of infringement and protecting legitimate uses of the Internet and principles of free speech 

and fair process.

6. Finally, we will build a data-driven government. Part of this effort includes launching an economic analysis to measure the economic contributions of intellectual property industries. We 

have also committed to comprehensively review existing intellectual property laws to ensure 

that they are effectively protecting U.S. innovation and U.S. innovators.

Since issuance of the JSP in June, the Office of the IPEC has been working with federal agencies, congressional staff, and the public to implement that strategic plan. The Administration will continue to 

prioritize intellectual property enforcement and to support U.S. businesses and consumers through 

protection of intellectual property. The Office of the IPEC will submit, by February 2011, a report to 

Congress describing implementation.

Backup Documents: 2010 Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement, Office of the U.S. 

Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Homepage

• U.S. Patent Database Available for Free Online | USPTO

Operating from the President’s Open Government Directive, the USPTO has worked to vastly increase the 

amount of U.S. patent information available at no charge on the Internet. The system is now in full production, including all the current feeds that were previously only available by subscription. Also available for 

the first time is the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) data, which is the full “wrapper” for a 

patent application. PAIR data was previously only available on a rate-limited query-only service.

Backup Documents: USPTO Bulk Downloads: Patents

• Negotiated Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement | USTR

In 2010 the Administration delivered on its commitment to strengthen international enforcement of 

intellectual property rights by concluding substantive negotiations on the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting 

Trade Agreement (ACTA). ACTA will step up the fight against global proliferation of commercial-scale 

counterfeiting and piracy in the 21st century. The agreement includes innovative provisions to deepen 

international cooperation, promote strong enforcement practices, and ultimately help sustain American 

jobs in innovative and creative industries. In December 2010, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 

(USTR) published a notice seeking public comments in connection with consideration of U.S. signature 

of the agreement.

Some of the ACTA’s key features include commitments to:

• support and enhance approaches to criminal enforcement through stronger requirements for 

criminal remedies and through improved seizure and destruction of fake goods, seizure of the 

equipment and materials used in their manufacture, and criminal proceeds;
Appendix B: Promote Market- Based Innovati o n 

★ 45 ★

• combat Internet piracy through a balanced framework that addresses widespread distribution 

of pirated copyrighted works and preserves fundamental principles such as freedom of expression, fair process, and privacy;

• provide customs authorities with ability to act against import and export shipments as well as 

to cooperate on in-transit shipments;

• strengthen civil enforcement provisions dealing with damages, provisional measures, recovery 

of costs and attorneys’ fees, and destruction of infringing goods;

• cooperate among ACTA Parties to assist in enforcement efforts; and

• promote good enforcement practices.

Backup Documents: Anti-Counterfeiting and Trade Agreement (ACTA)

Encourage high-growth and innovation-based entrepreneurship

Increase access to capital for new business

• Small Business Jobs Act | Small Business Association

The Small Business Jobs Act (SBJA), signed by President Obama on September 27, 2010, provided an 

additional $14 billion more in lending support via the Small Business Administration and more than 

$30 billion in capital support for small business lending via the Treasury, as well as $12 billion in tax 

relief to small businesses, to help these businesses invest and create jobs. The USDA’s Business and 

Industry Guaranteed Lending Program also provides $1 billion annually and, on account of the Recovery 

Act, was able to deliver $3 billion in FY 2010 to support the financing of rural businesses. All in all, the 

Obama Administration has sought to facilitate small business development by cutting taxes on small 

businesses 17 times.

Backup documents: President Obama signs small business jobs act, Small Business Jobs Act Homepage

• Proposed Zero Taxes on Capital Gains from Small Business Investment | The White House

The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 provides a 100% 

exclusion from tax for capital gains realized on the sale of certain small business stock held for more 

than five years. The amount of gain eligible for the exclusion is limited to the greater of $10 million or 

ten times the taxpayer’s basis in the stock. This provision applies to qualified small business stock issued 

after December 31, 2010, and before January 1, 2012. The President’s Budget proposal for FY 2012 calls 

for making this provision permanent, thereby supporting an expansion of private sector investment in 

small businesses.

Backup documents: State of the Union, January 2010, President Obama signs small business jobs act, Small 

Business Jobs Act Homepage
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 46 ★

Hold a forum on facilitating access to capital for entrepreneurs

America’s preeminence in generating innovative new companies depends on open and well-functioning 

capital markets. Research indicates that American start-ups create a disproportionate share of new 

jobs and contribute significantly to economic growth. However, recent trends in capital markets present several challenges for American entrepreneurs. First, venture capital deals and financing declined 

significantly during the financial crisis, making it more difficult for early stage companies to develop 

new products and expand. Second, the IPO market has recovered slowly, reducing the number of successful exits.

Moreover, venture capital and angel funding has historically been localized in areas such as Silicon Valley 

and Boston. Innovative programs have been launched to encourage capital formation in underserved 

areas, an especially critical need during this nascent economic recovery.

The forum will bring together top government officials from several agencies with experienced managers and investors from the private sector to assess recent trends in access to capital and its impact on 

entrepreneurship.

Topics of discussion will include:

− State of the IPO market and ideas to reduce the costs of going public

− The early stage capital gap and recommendations to fill it

− Recent trends in venture capital and implications for entrepreneurship

− Perspective of institutional investors on venture capital and private equity

− How to channel capital to emerging companies in underserved areas

• Guaranteed Business Lending | USDA

USDA Rural Development’s Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Lending Program directly supports 

the financing of rural businesses, creating sustainable jobs and advancing economic development 

throughout rural America. The B&I Guaranteed Lending Program improves access to capital for America’s 

rural businesses by providing lending support in partnership with both national and local community 

banks. The Recovery Act allowed the USDA to provide nearly $3 billion in lending support that was 

delivered in FY 2010.

Widen America’s lead as the world’s best place for high-growth entrepreneurship

• Startup America | The White House

Our nation has historically been the place where world-leading businesses and new industries take root.

Working in concert with the private sector, the Administration is committed to promoting innovationbased, high-growth entrepreneurship – not only in Silicon Valley, Research Triangle Park, and Boston, 

but all over America. This Startup America initiative will expand access to capital and improve the environment for startups; support entrepreneurship education and mentorship programs that empower 

more people not just to get a job, but to create jobs; strengthen commercialization of university and 

federally-funded research and development; and ensure that America continues to draw on the most 

talented innovators and entrepreneurs from around the world in starting new businesses.
Appendix B: Promote Market- Based Innovati o n 

★ 47 ★

To support Startup America’s goal of expanded access to capital, the Small Business Administration (SBA) 

will work with the private sector to invest $2 billion over the next five years in high-growth companies 

in underserved communities and innovation-based startups, all at no cost to taxpayers. The Treasury 

Department is also working to reform the New Markets Tax Credit, making it easier to support startups in 

lower-income communities, while the Administration has proposed expanding the credit in its FY 2012 

Budget proposal. The Administration will also launch public online suggestion tools and go on the road 

to cities across America to hear directly from entrepreneurs about the challenges they face and what the 

Administration can do to reduce undue regulatory burdens and accelerate success. To improve access to 

mentoring programs, both the SBA and the Veterans Administration have launched programs designed 

to provide high-quality mentorship by seasoned, successful entrepreneurs to new companies. To help 

drive university and federally-funded research into the marketplace, the Department of Commerce is 

launching its second annual i6 Challenge, which will focus on the green tech sector. Commerce is also 

announcing a Three Track Examination initiative that will give innovators more control over the patent 

application processing while supporting a more efficient market for innovation.

These initiatives represent just the beginning of a sustained Administration effort to promote highgrowth U.S. entrepreneurship. At the same time, responding to the President’s call to action, a new 

coalition of entrepreneurs and other leaders will develop a series of major private-sector commitments 

aimed at promoting entrepreneurial success and job creation across the country.

Overall, these efforts will serve the three key strategic goals of Startup America:

− Increase the number of start-ups and successful high-growth firms that are creating economic growth, innovation, and quality jobs;

− Celebrate and honor entrepreneurship, and reinforce entrepreneurship as a core American 

value and source of competitive advantage; and

− Broaden the circle of opportunity, so that more communities and Americans participate in 

our “innovation nation.”

Backup Documents: Startup America Fact Sheet.

• Promoting High-Growth Entrepreneurship | The Department of Commerce

The Department of Commerce’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship promotes innovationbased, high-growth entrepreneurship in pursuit of job creation and economic growth. The Office plays 

a leading role in developing policy recommendations and implementing initiatives to increase the 

efficiency and effectiveness of efforts to commercialize technology developed through university and 

federally-funded research. It manages the i6 Challenge, a multi-agency competitive grant program that 

encourages and rewards innovative partnership models, such as proof of concept centers, that accelerate 

technology commercialization, new venture formation, and job creation. It also manages the National 

Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which was established to advise the Secretary 

and administration on how best to foster high-growth entrepreneurship and support the development 

of innovation ecosystems.
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 48 ★

Backup Documents: EDA homepage, OIE homepage, National Advisory Council on Innovation and 

Entrepreneurship, i6 Challenge

• Innovation Fund | Small Business Administration

The Innovation Fund will support up to $1 billion in private-sector financing over the next five years by 

matching private capital raised by investment funds that are seeking to deploy capital in early stage 

innovative small businesses. Access to these sources of capital is a particular challenge that has been 

documented by the National Academy of Sciences, the Council on Competitiveness, and others. For the 

past several years, high growth companies that create the industries of tomorrow have encountered 

serious financing hurdles, leaving many promising technologies and companies stranded in the so-called 

“Valley of Death” where they are unable to access sufficient capital to grow. Investment funds licensed 

under the SBIC program raise private capital, a portion of which is guaranteed by SBA. Over the past 

decade, SBA has supported investment funds that have invested in 6,600 small businesses.

• Reduced Health-Insurance Barriers to Business Creation | Health and Human Services

The Affordable Care Act will reduce health care costs for individuals and reduce health care constraints 

on entrepreneurship. The Act allows Americans under the age of 26 to remain on their parents insurance and will prohibit new insurance policies from discriminating against Americans with pre-existing 

conditions, making it easier for Americans to start or join a new company without facing the concern 

that they will lack health care coverage.

Backup Documents: Is Employer-Based Health Insurance a Barrier to Entrepreneurship?,

Two New Studies: Health Reform Benefits Small Business, The Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Workers’ 

Health Insurance Coverage, Small Businesses and the Affordable Care Act of 2010

Promote regional innovation clusters

• Regional Cluster Initiative | Small Business Administration

SBA’s Regional Innovation Clusters (RICs) harness the potential of regional clusters to drive economic 

growth, create jobs, and strengthen American competitiveness. Leveraging regional strengths, the RIC 

program will utilize SBA resources to achieve maximum impact. At the same time, recognizing the needs 

for technology and innovation in specific areas, SBA is working closely with the Department of Defense 

on the Advanced Defense Technology (ADT) RIC program, which targets clusters focused on areas of 

interest to DOD, such as robotics, energy, lightweight materials, and cyber-security.

Backup documents: SBA Regional Clusters Initiative Homepage, SBA Announces Funding Available to 

Support Regional Clusters, Job Creation

• Regional Innovation Ecosystem Development | Department of Commerce

The Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is leading initiatives 

at several levels to support the development of regional innovation clusters as building blocks of job 

creation and U.S. economic competitiveness. EDA is pursuing RIC initiatives on three fronts: (1) Data, 

Tools, and Best Practices; (2) 21st Century Infrastructure; and (3) Institutional Support. Working through 

its traditional investment programs such as Public Works and Economic Adjustment, EDA has provided 

significant support to RICs at the regional level (100+ grants totaling approximately $65 million in FY 2010 
Appendix B: Promote Market- Based Innovati o n 

★ 49 ★

Q4 alone). EDA is also committed to streamlining federal support for RICs across agencies, working with 

partners through the Taskforce for the Advancement of Regional Innovation Clusters (TARIC) on policy 

recommendations, coordinated grants, and other initiatives.

Backup documents: EDA homepage, OIE homepage, Regional Innovation Clusters, Regional Innovation 

Acceleration Network Press Release, Cluster Mapping Press Release, Know Your Region

• Rural Regional Innovation Initiative | USDA

USDA’s Regional Innovation Initiative is designed to support economic development efforts in rural 

America that deliver robust regional strategies focused on the region’s assets. USDA is particularly 

interested in supporting regional strategies that take advantage of economic opportunities in rural 

America, including those involving regional food systems, renewable energy, and new jobs related to 

broadband and rural recreation. The initiative encourages asset-based strategic planning that encourages broad-based collaboration.

Backup documents: USDA Announces Awards to Support Regional Economic Strategies

• Agricultural Technology Innovation Partnership Program (ATIP) | USDA

USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) established the Agricultural Technology Innovation Partnership 

Program (ATIP) to provide opportunities for the private sector to commercialize research outcomes 

arising from the vast R&D programs of USDA. ATIP was established to strategically form nationwide 

geographic partnerships with well-established economic development entities that excel in providing the complementary business assets (manufacturing, marketing, fiscal) needed by private sector 

entrepreneurs and small businesses to commercialize USDA innovations.

Promote innovative, open, and competitive markets

Protect and enable competition

• Revised Horizontal Merger Guidelines | Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice 

and the Federal Trade Commission

In September 2009, the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade 

Commission (FTC) initiated a process to evaluate and possibly update their jointly issued Horizontal 

Merger Guidelines. These Guidelines describe the merger enforcement policies of the DOJ and FTC.

They have a significant impact on the antitrust evaluation of mergers and acquisitions that are subject to 

review by the DOJ and FTC. Well-designed merger enforcement policies promote innovation by allowing 

mergers to go forward that are likely to create efficiencies and spur innovation, while preventing mergers 

that may retard innovation by substantially reducing competition. Revised Guidelines were released in 

August 2010 and include, for the first time, a section explaining in general terms how the DOJ and FTC 

assess whether a merger is likely to retard innovation.

Backup documents: FTC and DOJ Horizontal Merger Guidelines–August 2010
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 50 ★

• Thoughtful and Effective Antitrust Enforcement | Antitrust Division of the Department 

of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission

The Obama Administration has made balanced antitrust enforcement a core part of its efforts to protect 

and promote competitive markets. Where mergers or market restraints threaten to prevent firms from 

introducing innovative products or services, the antitrust agencies—the DOJ and FTC—are vigilant in 

addressing such conduct. The Obama Administration also recognizes that American companies often 

need to collaborate to compete effectively in worldwide markets. The antitrust agencies are advocates at 

home (with federal and state regulatory agencies) and abroad for the principle that sound competition 

policy means protecting the competitive process—allowing firms to succeed or fail on the merits—and 

not individual competitors.

Improve regulation and regulatory review

In January 2011, President Obama issued an Executive Order to improve regulation and the regulatory 

review process. Under this Executive Order, the President required Federal agencies to design costeffective, evidence-based regulations that are compatible with economic growth, job creation, and 

competitiveness. The Order emphasizes the principles of public participation, integration and innovation, flexible approaches, and scientific integrity. It also includes a provision on retrospective review, 

which asks agencies to submit a preliminary plan within 120 days to determine whether any regulations 

should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed so as to make the agency’s regulatory program 

more effective or less burdensome.

Ensure an open Internet that protects consumers and enables innovation

President Obama is strongly committed to protecting an open Internet that protects consumers and 

innovation. To that same end, the FCC has acted to ensure that users and innovators are able to compete on the merits and not face anticompetitive barriers posed by incumbent broadband providers.

Similarly, President Obama is committed to ensuring that the Internet remains an environment where 

commerce can prosper and users will trust that they will be treated fairly. To that end, the Department 

of Commerce has outlined a path forward on protecting Internet privacy. Finally, as to the development 

of Internet policy principles more generally—protecting privacy, ensuring an open Internet, addressing cybersecurity concerns, etc.—the Administration has established an interagency effort to develop 

guidance on how to address policy issues in the Internet environment.

Backup Documents: Commerce Privacy Paper, FCC Action on Open Internet, White House

Statement on FCC Action On Open Internet, Formation of NSTC Subcommittee on Privacy and Internet 

Policy Principles

Promote American exports

• National Export Initiative | The White House

In March 2010, President Obama signed an executive order launching the National Export Initiative (NEI), 

an ambitious effort to help American businesses that sell their goods and services abroad. The NEI aims 

to fulfill the President’s goal of doubling U.S. exports in five years in support of millions of additional 

jobs. As part of this effort, the Administration is focusing on five chief areas, including: access to credit, 
Appendix B: Promote Market- Based Innovati o n 

★ 51 ★

especially for small and medium-sized firms; increased trade advocacy and export promotion efforts; 

removal of barriers to the sale of U.S. goods and services abroad; enforcement of trade rules; and the 

pursuit of policies that will increase global economic growth so that there’s a strong worldwide market 

for U.S. goods and services.

The NEI Executive Order established an Export Promotion Cabinet, which includes the Secretaries of 

Commerce, State, Treasury, Agriculture and Labor, the U.S. Trade Representative, and the heads of all the 

trade-related government agencies. Meeting individually and as part of working groups convened by 

the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), the Export Promotion Cabinet and other federal 

agencies have developed short- and long-term recommendations in the priority areas identified in the 

NEI Executive Order.

In September 2010, the Export Promotion Cabinet delivered a report to the President providing an overview of the progress of the NEI to date and laying out a comprehensive plan for reaching the President’s 

goals. The NEI Report presents the Export Promotion Cabinet’s recommendations for doubling exports 

in five years. It will be followed by the National Export Strategy, which will detail the implementation of 

these recommendations and measure progress. The National Export Strategy is delivered to Congress 

annually and is expected in March 2011. Exports in the first 11 months of 2010 were up 17% from a year 

earlier, above the rate needed to reach the President’s goal.

In early December 2010, the United States and South Korea reached agreement on a trade deal in which 

the tariff reductions alone are expected to boost annual exports of American goods by up to $11 billion.

The opening of the Korean goods and services market to U.S. exports is expected to support at least 

70,000 American jobs.

Backup Documents: Executive order–National Export Initiative, NEI homepage, NEI Report to the President 

(September 2010)

★ 53 ★

Appendix C: 

Catalyze Breakthroughs for 

National Priorities

Contents

Unleash a clean energy revolution

Double the nation’s supply of renewable energy by the end of 2012

Spur innovation through new energy standards

Create Energy Innovation Hubs

Invest in clean energy solutions

Promote energy efficient industries

Invest in Advanced Vehicle Technology

Promote energy efficient buildings

Accelerate biotechnology, nanotechnology, and advanced manufacturing

Complete DNA sequencing for major diseases and drive sequencing innovations

Feed the Future

Create nanotechnology solutions

Launch breakthrough technologies for advanced manufacturing

Develop breakthrough space capabilities and applications

Drive breakthroughs in health care technology

Expand the use of health IT

Enable innovation in medical technologies and medical care

Create a quantum leap in educational technologies

Advance development of educational technologies
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 54 ★

Unleash a clean energy revolution

Double the nation’s supply of renewable energy by the end of 2012

• 1603 and 48C Grant Programs | Department of Treasury

Federal tax credit and related programs have spurred deployment of innovative solar, wind, and 

geothermal energy technologies. The wind industry has led the way, with over nine gigawatts (GW) 

of new generating capacity installed in 2009 alone, aided by Recovery Act incentives. The Section 

1603 Payments-In-Lieu-Of-Tax-Credits program supported more than 200 megawatts (MW) of solar 

projects and more than 100 wind projects around the country, totaling 5.3 GW of wind power capacity.

The Section 48C Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits, as well as loan guarantees, are helping 

thin-film solar manufacturers create manufacturing capacity for 230 MW per year. The 1603 and 48C 

incentives have also supported new geothermal projects, including projects with a capacity to generate 

112 MW. Finally, the U.S. Department of Energy has issued loan guarantees or conditional commitments to support nearly 2 GW of new solar, geothermal, and wind capacity. Aided by these incentives, 

electricity generation from renewables (excluding conventional hydropower) is projected to be twice 

its 2008 level, meeting the Administration’s goal of doubling the supply of renewable energy in three 

years (See Figure 2).

Figure 2

Energy Information Administration data and forecasts

Backup documents: Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (48C), Fact Sheet: $2.3 Billion in New Clean 

Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits, Preliminary Evaluation of the Impact of the Section 1603 Treasury Grant 

Program on Renewable Energy Deployment in 2009, The Recovery Act: Transforming the American Economy 

through Innovation
Appendix C: Catalyze Breakthroughs for National Prioriti es

★ 55 ★

Spur innovation through new energy standards

• Clean Energy Standard | The White House

In the State of the Union Address on January 25, 2011, President Obama announced an initiative to produce more electricity through clean energy, proposing an ambitious but achievable goal of generating 

80% of the nation’s electricity from clean energy sources by 2035. This target will help position the United 

States as a global leader in developing and manufacturing cutting-edge clean energy technologies, 

improving the nation’s economic growth and competitiveness while also protecting the environment 

and developing an energy future that is secure and independent.

As an important step to reach this goal, the President is proposing a new Clean Energy Standard (CES) 

that will be founded on five core principles: (1) double the share of clean electricity in 25 years; (2) credit 

a broad range of clean energy sources; (3) protect consumers against rising energy bills; (4) ensure fairness among regions; and (5) promote new technologies such as clean coal.

The CES should work to steadily increase the share of delivered electricity generated from clean energy 

sources, rising from 40% today to 80% by 2035. To ensure broad deployment and provide maximum 

flexibility in meeting the target, clean energy credits should be issued for electricity generated from 

renewable and nuclear power, with partial credits given for clean coal and efficient natural gas. Smart 

policies will help American families and businesses save money by saving energy. For example, the CES 

can be paired with energy efficiency programs that will lower consumers’ energy bills (e.g. stronger 

appliance efficiency standards, tax credits for energy efficiency upgrades, and the proposed Home 

Star program), and will include provisions to help manufacturers invest in technologies to improve 

efficiency and reduce energy costs. Further, because different regions of the country rely on diverse 

energy sources today and have varying access to future clean energy resources, the CES must ensure 

that these differences are taken into account. Finally, the CES should encourage the deployment of 

emerging technologies, such as clean coal with carbon capture and sequestration.

• Bioenergy | USDA and EPA

On February 3, 2010, the EPA finalized a rule to implement the Renewable Fuel Standard, a long-term 

renewable fuel mandate established by Congress that requires the use of 36 billion gallons of renewable 

transportation fuel by 2022. Advanced, low-carbon renewable fuels such as cellulosic biofuel must make 

up 21 billion gallons of this mandate. Achieving this mandate will help speed the transition to cleaner, 

more secure sources of energy in the transportation sector, helping our nation address the challenges of 

climate change, dependence on oil, and job creation. To do so, the Administration is acting on multiple 

fronts, such as creating the Biomass Crop Assistance Program and increasing the amount of ethanol 

that is allowed to be blended in certain cars from 10% to 15% (E15).

With a focus on helping the country reach 36 billion gallons by 2022, USDA, in collaboration with DOE 

and EPA, developed the Growing America’s Fuels strategy. This plan will help ensure that dependable 

supplies of feedstock are available for the production of advanced biofuels to meet legislated goals and 

market demand, as well to enhance rural economic sustainability. Toward that end, USDA is establishing 

five Regional Biomass Research Centers and has published a Biofuels Production Roadmap addressing 

regional variations in feedstock availability and biorefinery locations. In addition, USDA is implementing 
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 56 ★

bioenergy programs from the 2008 Farm Bill, including the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, which 

provides payments for biomass feedstocks, and Sections 9003, 9004, and 9005, which support producers of advanced biofuels.

Backup documents: USDA Energy Fact Sheet, USDA Regional Biomass Research Centers, Press Release: 

Obama Announces Steps to Boost Biofuels, Clean Coal; February 3, 2010, EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard 

Homepage, Biomass Crop Assistance Program, EPA–E15

Create Energy Innovation Hubs

• Energy Innovation Hubs | Department of Energy

The urgency of the energy and climate challenges facing our nation, coupled with challenges to our 

nation’s leadership in technological innovation, led to the establishment of the first Energy Innovation 

Hubs. These Hubs are indicative of the Administration’s new, proactive approach to research and a way 

to harness American ingenuity to drive ground-breaking technology. Energy Innovation Hubs are large, 

multi-disciplinary, highly-collaborative teams of scientists and engineers working to achieve a specific 

high priority goal. They are led by top researchers with the knowledge, resources, and authority to 

nimbly guide efforts, seizing new opportunities or closing off unproductive lines of research. Funding 

Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) have been issued for three hubs: Energy Regional Innovation 

Cluster (efficient buildings), Liquid Fuels from Sunlight, and Modeling and Simulation on Nuclear 

Reactors (nuclear energy).

The first three Hubs were competitively awarded in 2010: the Modeling and Simulation for Nuclear 

Reactors Hub was awarded to the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors, led 

by Oak Ridge National Laboratory; the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, a team co-led by 

the California Institute of Technology and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, was selected for 

the Fuels from Sunlight Energy Innovation Hub; and the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster for 

Energy-Efficient Buildings, a team led by the Pennsylvania State University was chosen to establish 

the Innovation Hub focused on developing technologies to make buildings more energy efficient. To 

solve further, key challenges, the President’s FY 2012 Budget calls for doubling the number of Energy 

Innovation Hubs.

Backup documents: Energy Innovation Hub Homepage, Factsheet: Energy Innovation Hub for Modeling 

and Simulation, Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors, Energy Efficient Building 

Systems Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative, Fuels from Sunlight, Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, 

Penn State to Lead Philadelphia-Based Team that will Pioneer New Energy-Efficient Building Designs, Greater 

Philadelphia Innovation Cluster for Energy-Efficient Buildings.

Invest in clean energy solutions

• ARPA-E Grants for Transformational Technology | Department of Energy

The Department of Energy has supported more than 100 ambitious research projects that could fundamentally change the way the country uses and produces energy. Funded through the Department 

of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), nearly $400 million was awarded 

to projects that could produce advanced biofuels more efficiently from renewable electricity; design 
Appendix C: Catalyze Breakthroughs for National Prioriti es

★ 57 ★

completely new types of batteries to make electric vehicles more affordable; remove carbon pollution 

from coal-fired power plants in a more cost-effective way; and pursue other game-changing technologies. The Administration’s FY 2012 Budget proposes to expand funding for ARPA-E.

Backup Documents: ARPA-E Homepage

• Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program | Department of 

Energy

The President has set an ambitious goal of putting 1 million advanced technology vehicles on the road 

by 2015 – which would reduce dependence on foreign oil and lead to a reduction in oil consumption of 

about 750 million barrels through 2030. The Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan 

Program is investing in automobile manufacturers and component suppliers for projects that reequip, 

expand, and establish manufacturing facilities in the United States to produce light-duty vehicles and 

components for such vehicles, which provide meaningful improvements in fuel economy performance.

In 2009, the U.S. had only two factories manufacturing advanced vehicle batteries that power advanced 

technology vehicles and produced less than two percent of the world’s advanced batteries. The 

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included $2.4 billion for battery and electric drive component 

manufacturing, and for electric drive demonstration and infrastructure – investments that are already 

transforming the advanced vehicle batteries industry in the U.S. As a result of these investments, in just 

the next few years, battery costs are expected to drop by half (2009-2013), the United States will be able 

to produce enough batteries and components to support 500,000 plug-in and hybrid vehicles and will 

have the capacity to produce 40% of the world’s advanced batteries (2015). The Recovery Act is also 

supporting the deployment of infrastructure for advanced technology vehicles. And this year’s Budget 

will significantly broaden R&D investments in technologies like batteries and electric drives – including 

an over 30% increase in support for vehicle technology R&D and a new Energy Innovation Hub devoted 

to improving batteries and energy storage for vehicles and beyond.

Backup Documents: ATVM Loan Program Homepage, ATVM Loan Program Factsheet

• Investments in Advanced Battery and Electric Drive Component Technology | Department 

of Energy

Electric cars need batteries and drive components that are in short supply in the U.S. To stimulate their 

production, over $2 billion in Recovery Act funding is being invested in companies like A123 (See Box 6) 

and EnerDel, supporting 30 factories to produce the advanced batteries and electric drive components 

necessary to power the electric-drive vehicles of the future. By 2015, when these factories reach scale, 

they will have the capacity to produce enough batteries to support up to 500,000 plug-in hybrid electric 

vehicles. From a negligible portion of the world’s advanced battery manufacturing today, U.S. production 

capacity for advanced vehicle batteries will amount to more than 20% of global production capacity 

estimated to be online in 2012. If successful, these breakthroughs could cut battery costs by as much 

as 90% and expand range three- to six-fold, bringing the up-front cost of electric cars down to that of 

gas cars and giving them a longer range.

Backup Documents: President Obama Announces $2.4 Billion in Grants to Accelerate the Manufacturing 

and Deployment of the Next Generation of U.S. Batteries and Electric Vehicles, The Recovery Act: Transforming 

the American Economy through Innovation
A Strategy for American Innovation

★ 58 ★

Promote energy efficient industries

• Increased Demand to Improve Fuel Efficiency and Reduce Oil Dependence | EPA, NHTSA, 

and DOE

Beyond supporting investments in new vehicle technologies, the government is raising demand for 

innovation through new fuel efficiency standards and spurring private sector innovation in alternative 

fuels. In April 2010, EPA and NHTSA announced a joint Final Rule to establish greenhouse gas (GHG) 

emissions standards and CAFE standards respectively, for model year 2012-2016 light-duty vehicles. In 

September 2010, EPA and NHTSA issued a Notice of Intent to begin developing new standards for greenhouse gases and fuel economy for light-duty vehicles for the 2017-2025 model years. The two agencies 

are also focused on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and in October 2010, announced a proposed rule 

to, for the first time ever, establish GHG emissions standards and CAFE standards for such vehicles for 

model years 2014-2018. In parallel to these rule-makings, the Recovery Act provided the Department 

of Energy with the opportunity to invest nearly $718 million in the future of biofuels and biopower.

Box 6: A123 Systems – A Case Study

A smart innovation strategy recognizes that today’s nascent invention in a university laboratory could be 

tomorrow’s start-up company raising venture capital and eventually growing into a large company that 

employs hundreds of workers and addresses a key national priority.

Take the case of hybrid and electric vehicles. For these vehicles to achieve the market share necessary to 

significantly reduce carbon emissions, they must have batteries that are powerful, efficient, cost effective 

and safe. Where will these technologies come from and who will fund the entrepreneurs who develop 

them into commercial products and create jobs? Moreover, will this process of innovation and entrepreneurship happen in the United States or elsewhere?

Understanding the success of A123 Systems and the effective yet limited role of public policy in facilitating 

its development is particularly instructive. A123 Systems is a leading producer of the lithium-ion batteries 

that power hybrid and electric vehicles. The firm was founded in 2001 as a spin-off from MIT, enabled by a 

$100,000 SBIR grant from the Department of Energy. Improving the process by which promising university 

research is commercialized is a key component of our Innovation Strategy.

Buoyed by its early success transitioning from the laboratory to an entrepreneurial venture, the firm went 

on to raise more than $300 million in venture capital from venture investors like Sequoia Capital and corporations like GE and Motorola. It also received a $5 million loan from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

A123 went public in September 2009, raising $380 million, and today it has approximately 1,700 employees. In December 2009, A123 obtained nearly $250 million from the Department of Energy to build a 

manufacturing plant in Michigan. The Administration’s Innovation Strategy aims to catalyze entrepreneurial activity to address key national priorities, whether it nurtures firms like A123 in the clean energy sector 

or other innovative companies in biomedical sciences or nanotechnology.

Backup Documents: A123 Systems–Revitalizing American Manufacturing, Remarks by the President 

in Phone Call to Recovery Act Advanced Battery Grant Recipient, A123 Systems in Livonia, MI
Appendix C: Catalyze Breakthroughs for National Prioriti es

★ 59 ★

Backup documents: EPA Regulations and Standards, May 19, 2009: President Obama Announces National 

Fuel Efficiency Policy, Biomass Program Recovery Act Factsheet, Biomass Program–Bioindustry Creates Green 

Jobs, Growing America’s Energy Future: Renewable Bioenergy, Biomass Program Recovery Act Factsheet, 

Biomass Program–Bioindustry Creates Green Jobs, Growing America’s Energy Future: Renewable Bioenergy

• Government Demand as Innovation Driver | The White House, DOE, and GSA

The federal government, as the single largest energy consumer in the U.S. economy, can play a critical 

role catalyzing demand for innovative energy technologies. In October 2009, President Obama signed 

an Executive Order that calls on agencies to cut the federal government’s fleet petroleum use by 30% 

by 2020, and in January 2010 President Obama announced that the federal government would reduce 

its GHG pollution by 28% by 2020.

As part of these efforts, the General Services Administration is replacing 5,603 of the least fuel efficient 

cars and trucks in the federal fleet with fuel efficient hybrids. The U.S. Navy is driving demand for new 

fuels by committing to convert its planes, ships, and vehicles to 50% alternative fuels by 2020. The 

Department of Defense (DOD) is also using its installations as a test bed and market driver for the next 

generation of energy technologies. For example, DOD is testing a smart microgrid that will allow the 

Twenty-nine Palms Marine Corps base to operate off the grid if needed and reduce its energy costs 

when tied to the grid. At Camp Roberts in California, the Army is validating a new solar technology 

that exploits advances in nanotechnology to provide significant cost savings. And at the Great Lakes 

Naval Training Center in Chicago, the military is testing an innovative building management system 

that continuously compares design specifications to actual building performance to allow immediate 

corrective actions. For these and other energy technologies that prove their worth, DOD can use its 

significant buying power to help create a commercial market, much as the military did with jet engines, 

integrated circuits, and the Internet.

Backup documents: President Obama Sets Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target for Federal 

Operations, President Obama Expands Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target for Federal Operations, GSA 

Doubles the Federal Hybrid Fleet, DOE Takes the Lead in Updating to Hybrids, The Department of Energy’s Fleet 

Alternative Fueled Vehicle Acquisition Report Compliance with EPACT 1992 and E.O. 13423 in Fiscal Year 2007

Invest in Advanced Vehicle Technology

The President’s FY 2012 Budget proposes to make the United States the world’s leader in manufacturing 

and deploying next-generation vehicle technologies, expanding funding for vehicle technologies by 

almost 90% to nearly $590 million and enhancing existing tax incentives. Recovery Act and prior year 

investments are already making progress on advanced technology vehicles through research initiatives 

like an ARPA-E grant to develop a battery that will go 300 miles on a single charge. The FY 2012 Budget 

will significantly broaden R&D investments in technologies like batteries and electric drives – including 

an over 30% increase in support for vehicle technology R&D and a new Energy Innovation Hub devoted 

to improving batteries and energy storage for vehicles and beyond. In addition, the President is proposing to transform the existing $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles into a rebate that will be available to 

all consumers immediately at the point of sale.
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Promote energy efficient buildings

• Greater Energy Efficiency in the Commercial Buildings | DOE and SBA

As a key part getting 80% of our electricity from clean energy resources, the President is calling for new 

efforts to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings across the country. The President’s Better 

Buildings Initiative will make non-residential buildings 20% more energy efficient over the next decade 

by catalyzing private sector investment through a series of incentives to upgrade offices, stores, schools 

and other municipal buildings, universities, hospitals, and other commercial buildings. The President’s 

Budget will propose to make American businesses more energy efficient through tax incentives, 

increased financing opportunities, and a competitive grant program for states and municipalities.

Accelerate biotechnology, nanotechnology, and advanced manufacturing

Complete DNA sequencing for major diseases and drive sequencing innovations

A decade after the publication of the first draft human genome (a culmination of years of effort by thousands of researchers), the Administration is investing in the sequencing of over 1,800 complete genomes, 

a more than 50-fold increase over the 34 genomes that have been sequenced to date by non-Recovery 

Act NIH funding (See Figure 4). This accomplishment will be spread across various studies, projects, and 

disease groups, and will lend a new level of insight into disease that was previously unattainable.

The Administration, through NIH, is also leading The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the largest and most 

comprehensive analysis of the molecular basis of cancer ever undertaken. TCGA aims to identify and 

catalog all of the relevant genetic alterations in 20 common types of cancer. The genomic information 

generated by TCGA may lead to new targets for cancer treatments, improvements in how cancer is diagnosed, and advances in personalized medicine, such as prevention strategies based on an individual’s 

genetic makeup and treatment plans based on a patient’s unique disease.

The promise of being able to compare entire human genomes is boundless. Today, however, the financial 

cost of doing so is very high and often prohibitive. Therefore, further investments are directed toward 

the goal of slashing the cost of DNA sequencing. NIH has already made great progress in this area and 

aims to reduce the cost of sequencing a human genome to $15,000 in 2012, a 40% reduction from the 

current cost and almost 80% less than the cost in 2009.
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Figure 4

Backup Documents: The Recovery Act–Transforming the American Economy Through Innovation

Feed the Future

Agricultural development hinges on access to affordable, appropriate, and sustainable technologies 

that can improve food production, harvesting, storage, and distribution, and advance the health and 

safety of all citizens. In developing countries with largely agrarian populations, a vibrant and sustainable 

agricultural system is the very basis for broad economic development and stability. By promoting the 

exploration of biotechnology and other strategies to improve agricultural productivity, the Feed the 

Future Initiative will ensure the food security in the U.S. and globally.

Backup documents: Feed the Future Initiative

Create nanotechnology solutions

Advances in nanotechnology can drive economic growth, create quality jobs, and address a broad range 

of national challenges. Examples of potential nanotechnology applications include smart anti-cancer 

therapeutics that target tumors without the devastating side effects of chemotherapy, solar cells as 

cheap as paint, and the next revolution in computing. Companies are already offering nanotechnologyenabled products with breakthrough capabilities in areas such as disease detection, lighter and stronger 

materials and next-generation batteries.
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As indicated in the National Nanotechnology Initiative Supplement to the President’s 2011 Budget, to 

accelerate nanotechnology development in support of the President’s priorities and innovation strategy, 

NNI member agencies have identified areas ripe for significant advances through close and targeted 

program-level interagency collaboration:

• Nanoelectronics for 2020 and Beyond

• Sustainable Nanomanufacturing – Creating the Industries of the Future

• Nanotechnology for Solar Energy Collection and Conversion

Backup Documents: Draft National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Plan 2010, No Input is Too Small: 

Comment on National Nanotechnology Initiative’s Strategic Plan

Launch breakthrough technologies for advanced manufacturing

A vibrant manufacturing base is critical for continued innovation, with important spillover benefits for 

the broader economy. While the manufacturing sector directly represents only 12% of U.S. GDP, manufacturing firms conduct 70% of private sector R&D. The manufacturing sector also helps train the next 

generation of skilled workers and supports the foundational knowledge necessary to produce process 

and product innovation.

Advanced manufacturing can be defined as manufacturing activities that bring substantial intellectual 

capital, in the form of new technologies, into the manufacturing process, resulting in a combination 

of lower cost, rapid customization, improved time-to-market, reduced waste, and increased quality.

Advanced manufacturing technologies hold the potential to dramatically enhance the competitiveness of both existing and new manufacturing industries. The U.S. is already regarded as the leader in 

foundational knowledge in many of the technologies believed to have potential, including modeling 

and simulation, nanotechnology, information technology, and cyber-physical systems. However, to 

date, leadership in foundational knowledge has not translated into advanced manufacturing leadership.

The Administration is committed to support private sector investment in advanced manufacturing.

The Administration is launching private-public partnerships and investing in breakthrough research 

that can provide the foundation for future economic growth and competitiveness. The FY 2012 Budget 

increases investments at key science agencies, including the NSF, NIST laboratories, the Department of 

Energy Office of Science, and DARPA, to support U.S. leadership in developing advanced manufacturing technologies. The FY 2012 Budget also provides funding to initiate the Advanced Manufacturing 

Technology Consortia Program and sustain the Technology Innovation Program, public-private partnerships that will help spur innovation in new manufacturing products and processes.

Develop breakthrough space capabilities and applications

In June 2010, the President released his National Space Policy, which highlights the ever-increasing role 

that space systems, technologies, and activities play in our daily lives. Space technologies now help warn 

us of impending natural disasters, enable worldwide communications, facilitate global commerce, monitor global weather and climate, explore the solar system and universe, inspire our youth, provide global 
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navigation and position location capabilities, and contribute to our security at home and abroad. The 

President is committed to continuing U.S. leadership in this arena by strengthening our space-related 

science and technology R&D initiatives, enhancing mutually beneficial international cooperation efforts, 

improving the state of the U.S. space industrial base, and taking steps to enable a robust, innovative, 

and competitive commercial space sector.

NASA will again be helping to lead the way in our space programs for the 21st century as it pursues 

a bold new approach to space science, exploration, and discovery. Under direction from President 

Obama and the U.S. Congress, NASA has been directed to establish a new program in advanced space 

technology R&D, to begin a new era of utilization of the International Space Station (ISS) by working 

with the private sector to expand American industry’s role in human spaceflight, and to initiate the 

development of the next generation of space vehicles that will expand our human presence beyond 

Earth orbit and deeper into our solar system. These efforts will create thousands of new jobs as NASA 

expands its partnerships with industry, generate new markets for new products and discoveries derived 

from ISS utilization activities, expand our knowledge of our solar system and our place in it, and trigger 

a rush of new innovations and achievements.

In conjunction with NASA’s new initiatives, the Obama Administration is continuing its efforts to 

advance U.S. capabilities in other space sectors, as highlighted in the President’s National Space Policy.

For example, the U.S. Department of Defense is in the process of launching a new generation of global 

positioning satellites and services and continuing the development of the satellite navigation architecture. These new capabilities will advance satellite navigation and timing applications in a range of 

fields, including areas such as urban planning, agriculture, communications, air travel, highway safety 

initiatives, and many more. The Administration will also continue and improve a broad array of programs 

of space-based observation, research, and analysis of the Earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere. New 

initiatives are also underway in areas such as satellite remote sensing and communications, each of 

which can help improve our security and support new industries and markets.

Backup documents: National Space Policy

Drive breakthroughs in health care technology

The inefficiencies in our health care system raise costs and reduce the quality of care. Information technology has the potential to revolutionize our health care systems, creating technological platforms to 

reduce costs, reduce errors, and increase the quality of care. By breaking down barriers between health 

service providers, health IT can integrate our health markets to attract scalable, competitively tested 

private sector innovation.

Expand the use of health IT

• Health IT Adoption | Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information 

Technology

Information technology has the potential to revolutionize our health care systems, creating technological platforms to increase efficiencies, reduce errors, and improve the quality of care. By breaking down 

barriers between health service providers, health IT can integrate our health markets to attract scalable, 
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competitively tested private sector innovation. The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health 

Information Technology is working to realize this vision through numerous initiatives.

• The Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs will provide 

incentive payments to eligible professionals and hospitals who qualify as “meaningful users” 

of certified EHR technology. According to surveys released in January of 2011 by the American 

Hospital Association and the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 80% of eligible 

hospitals and 40% of office-based physicians intend to participate in the program.

• The Health Information Technology Extension Program establishes Regional Extension Centers 

to accelerate adoption of EHRs. Starting in 2010, $677 million has been awarded to create 62 

Regional Extension Centers, and an additional $50 million will be invested in establishing the 

national Health IT Research Center. The Regional Extension Centers aim to support at least 

100,000 primary care providers in achieving meaningful use of EHRs.

• The Nationwide Health Information Network (NwHIN) develops standards, services, and policies 

that enable secure health information exchange over the Internet. The NwHIN will provide a 

foundation for the exchange of health IT across diverse entities, within communities, and across 

the country, providing a platform to attract and adopt system-wide innovation.

• The State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program funds states’ efforts 

to rapidly build capacity for exchanging health information across the health care system both 

within and across states. In March 2010, ONC announced a total of 56 awards – to states, eligible 

territories, and qualified State Designated Entities – amounting to over $547 million.

• The Beacon Community Program began providing $250 million in May 2010 to support 17 communities with expected EHR adoption rates significantly above national averages. The program 

will help accelerate and demonstrate the role of health IT in improving Americans’ health and 

the performance of the health care providers who serve them.

Backup Documents: HITECH Priority Grants Program–Factsheet, HITECH Priority Grants Program Homepage, 

State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program–Factsheet, State Health Information 

Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program: Frequently Asked Questions, State Health Information Exchange 

Toolkit, National Institutes of Health–Mobile Health Homepage, Beacon Community Cooperative Agreement 

Program–Factsheet, Vice President Biden, HHS Secretary Sebelius Announce Selection of 15 Health IT Pilot 

Communities through Recovery Act Beacon Community Program, Nationwide Health Information Network 

(NHIN) Homepage
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• Breakthroughs in health IT technology | Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for 

Health Information Technology

The Strategic Health IT Advanced Research Projects (SHARP) Program funds potentially game-changing 

advances to address well-documented problems that have impeded adoption of health IT. In March 

2010, four $15 million dollar awards were announced to four academic institutions. Awardees will engage 

in research and product development to address barriers to health IT adoption in four key areas:

• Security and health information technology

• Patient-centered decision making support

• Health care application and network design

• Secondary use of EHR information

These academic partners will integrate input from providers, patients, academics, industry, and government stakeholders to translate their research into patient-centered products and services. This project 

will yield fundamental improvements within and between project areas to help make an electronic 

health record available for all Americans by 2014.

Backup Documents: SHARP Program Factsheet, SHARP Program Frequently Asked Questions Website

Enable innovation in medical technologies and medical care

• Council on Medical Device Innovation and Transparency Initiative | U.S. FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working to accelerate the development of medical device 

technologies. In June 2009, the FDA launched a “Transparency Initiative” which will improve the market’s 

understanding of the approval process and encourage innovation. In January 2010, the FDA announced 

the creation of the Council on Medical Device Innovation, designed to encourage innovations that 

will address unmet public health needs. The multi-agency council will facilitate medical technology 

innovations by identifying the most important unmet public health needs, delineating the barriers 

to the development of technologies to treat these needs, and addressing obstacles to patient access.

Backup Documents: FDA–Medical Device Development Process Presentation, FDA Public Workshop: 

Identifying Unmet Public Health Needs and Facilitating Innovation in Medical Device Development

• Qualified Therapeutic Discovery Project Program | Internal Revenue Service and Health 

and Human Services

The Qualified Therapeutic Discovery Project Program provided tax credits and grants to small firms in 

2009 and 2010 that show significant potential to produce new and cost-saving therapies, support U.S.

jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness. Applicants were required to have their research projects certified as eligible for the credit or grant. Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of 

Health, reviewed the applications from a scientific perspective, and the Internal Revenue Service made 

the final determination of the awards.

Backup Documents: Program Homepage, IRS guidance
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• Health Care Innovation Through Reduced Cost | Health and Human Services

Over time, the Affordable Care Act will reduce costs throughout the health care system. The bill creates competition among private-sector insurance companies in newly-created insurance exchanges.

Most importantly, in the current fee-for-service system, manufacturers, hospitals, and other providers 

are generally reimbursed based on the volume and price of treatment, creating little motivation to 

innovate to contain costs. With the Affordable Care Act, delivery system reforms through accountable 

care organizations, bundling payments, and pressure to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and readmissions will all provide incentives for physicians, hospitals, and other providers to improve quality 

while lowering costs.

Projections by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services find that the law will reduce the annualized growth rate of Medicare spending between 2012 and 2019 by 1.4 percentage points. An analysis 

by the Congressional Budget Office found that private-sector premiums for individuals will fall between 

7 and 10 percent for a given amount of coverage.

Cost containment will provide strong incentives for innovation and the development of technologies 

(see Box 7) that improve the quality of care, saving lives and lowering costs by wringing inefficiency out 

of the health care system. In addition, reform will stimulate innovations in the processes of care and 

patient flow. A number of these innovations have occurred, but with health care reform the pace of 

innovation will accelerate.

Backup documents: GAO Report on Hospital Flow, HHS Healthcare Related Infections Initiatives, Hospital 

Checklist Reduces Infections, GAO Report on Advanced Imaging
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Box 7: Innovations in Health Care

The innovations in health care that the Administration hopes to drive by containing costs go far beyond the important 

– but traditional – view of medical innovation as new drugs or approaches to treatment. Medical innovations range 

from redesigned devices to prevent errors that cost lives to changes in the workflow of hospitals and doctor’s offices to 

the rapid accessibility of patient data. This box describes some of the technologies that most patients – and even many 

doctors – may not imagine are possible, yet would be scaled up within a system that rewards innovations by reducing 

costs:

•	 Devices designed for efficiency and lower cost. Curbing costs will require manufacturers to innovate to provide 

quality for less. For example, device designers have developed a resuscitation “crash cart” that splits into three 

pieces with dedicated equipment for each part of a medical team to provide care quickly and accurately in crisis 

situations. Designers have created lightweight, simpler plastic clamps to guide orthopedic surgeons in knee operations, replacing cumbersome, overweight, metal instruments. The innovative guides improved accuracy because 

surgeons found them easier to employ, rather than operating freehand instead of using the older, bulkier devices.

The current medical marketplace does not reward these types of innovative and efficient designs.

•	 Safer medical equipment. Safety can be embedded in the architecture of medical equipment itself. A 2006 survey 

found that 16% of hospitals had experienced a medical tubing error, such as attaching a tube delivering liquid food 

into a line leading to a vein – resulting in agony and death. Tubing designed so that it will not fit if it is connected 

improperly is an example of a medical equipment innovation that would reduce costs, prevent errors, and save lives.

•	 Redesigned monitoring devices. Patient monitoring devices—from those reporting vital signs to diagnostic tools 

—often have complex displays, and confusing ports for input and output. In high-pressure situations, these devices 

can hinder the effectiveness of nurses and doctors. Better industrial design would yield a simpler interface with 

clear labels and display of patient information for quick reference. Designers have created diagnostic devices that 

improve safety as well, such as a blood pressure cuff with a Velcro-detachable, hygienic “wipe clean” surface, and 

a timestrip for intravenous lines that gradually fills with ink to provide a visual guide for how long a line has been 

inserted.

•	 New office and hospital flow processes. Management of the flow of patients between different arms of hospitals 

and within doctors’ offices is an area ripe for innovation, and could be augmented with new technology. According 

to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), hospitals have improved the flow out of emergency departments 

and into inpatient beds by forming teams, which meet several times a day, to carefully monitor entering patients 

and opening beds. Hospitals have partnered with states and cities to establish diversion programs to reduce the 

burden on ER departments of patients who require treatment, but not emergency care. These processes save costs 

and improve quality, but are not rewarded under a system with high reimbursements for ER visits and payments 

based on volume.

•	 Less expensive diagnostic tests. According to the GAO, from 2000 through 2006, Medicare spending for imaging 

services paid for under the physician fee schedule more than doubled—increasing to about $14 billion. Spending 

on advanced imaging, such as CT scans, MRIs, and nuclear medicine, rose substantially faster than other imaging 

services such as ultrasound, X-ray, and other standard imaging. The Affordable Care Act takes steps to realign and 

rein in this growth in excess spending, driving providers towards effective and efficient diagnostic tests.

•	 More health data. As described elsewhere in the report, the Recovery Act makes large investments in health IT 

and electronic medical records. The Affordable Care Act drives new pricing and performance transparency of the 

health-insurance and health care-provider markets. The President’s open government initiative continues to publish 

a growing array of health care data sets online and makes them freely available. Mining and sharing data from these 

sources will augment the implementation of all of the innovative technologies outlined above, by allowing the 

identification of high-risk individuals and good practices to address their needs.

•	 A simple checklist for preventing infections. Health care-associated infections (HAIs) exact a significant toll on 

human life. They are among the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, accounting for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths in recent years. It is estimated that health care-associated 

infections cause $28 to $33 billion in excess health care costs each year. A simple, 5-point checklist developed at 

Johns Hopkins and implemented in hospitals in Michigan—which includes basic steps like washing hands, cleaning 

the skin, and wearing the proper mask, hat, gown and gloves—was found to reduce HAIs to nearly zero. In the 

current health care system, with payment based on volume rather than quality, these types of innovations in the 

structure of delivery are not rewarded.
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Create a quantum leap in educational technologies

Advance development of educational technologies

The Opportunity

There is growing evidence that technology can improve learning outcomes and reduce the time needed 

for students of all ages to gain new knowledge and skills by personalizing the learning experience.

Furthermore, technology can increase the rate of improvement in education by enabling rapid, low-cost 

experimentation to better evaluate new methods and accelerate the diffusion of best practices. With 

relatively widespread access to broadband, cloud computing, digital devices and software, the technological conditions are increasingly ripe for the development of advanced educational technologies.

Additionally, learning technologies have the potential to be a rapidly growing industry internationally. As developing countries seek to educate broader segments of their population, they may turn to 

learning technologies. Many countries, such as India and China, have not invested in the brick-andmortar infrastructure that we have in the United States, and they may seek less expensive, more flexible 

approaches to learning. With appropriate leadership, the United States has an opportunity to lead in 

this new and expanding market, but we must move rapidly to secure our leadership or other countries 

will close the gap.

Government’s Role

The government’s role in stimulating and facilitating the development of this sector could take several 

forms. In the education sector, where there is potential for widespread adoption of these technologies, 

demand is currently fragmented and insufficient to encourage the private sector to make substantial 

investments. As it has done successfully in other sectors of national importance (for example, semiconductors or biotechnology), the government is currently exploring limited and strategic investments in 

educational R&D that will catalyze the emerging education technology industry and secure American 

leadership in a global sector – upfront investments that many educational institutions and companies 

would not be able to make on their own but that will produce benefits that accrue to the entire nation.

The President has already demonstrated his commitment to educational technology and the Department 

of Education recently released a National Educational Technology Plan, which is a five-year action plan 

for using technology to improve student learning, accelerate and scale up the adoption of effective 

practices, and use data and information for continuous improvement. Across the government there are 

initiatives to support improved learning outcomes through the use of technology, from the National 

Science Foundation launch of “Cyberlearning Transforming Education” to a variety of DARPA, DOE, and 

Navy programs in this area. Given the opportunities in this sector the government will seek to promote 

the development and adoption of educational technology in the following ways:

• Support federal research, development, demonstration and evaluation that will improve our 

understanding of how and in what contexts educational technology can improve student 

achievement.

• Provide immediate opportunities for the creation of new learning technologies, including 

through support for the development of specific applications and courseware through interagency procurement agreements.
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• Develop “pull” mechanisms to accelerate the market for advanced learning technologies, 

working with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools as platforms for 

innovation and as early “customers” for new effective approaches.

• Stimulate private sector investment in the sector—call on companies and philanthropic organizations to supplement federal government spending on K–12 STEM education, building on 

the successful Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund.

There are a number of opportunities to catalyze market opportunities and make transformative investments, with an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Education (ARPA-ED) as a flagship leader in this 

field. Modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the government department that has supported the creation of the Internet, GPS, stealth technology, and other revolutionary 

innovations, the creation of ARPA-ED will drive innovation in the area of educational technology. With 

funding in Fiscal Year 2012, ARPA-ED will:

• Sponsor the synthesis and vetting of the nation’s public and private research and development 

efforts with the explicit purpose of identifying breakthrough development opportunities and 

shaping the next wave of R&D.

• Invest in the development of new education technologies and digital learning materials.

• Identify and transition the best and most relevant R&D with possible applications in education 

from other federal agencies.

The Goal

ARPA-ED would fund bold programs and increase entrepreneurship and innovation in the field of education. The end goal is to develop transformative, game-changing education technologies – technologies 

that will be interoperable and build strategically upon one another to achieve progress at scale.

Backup documents: National Educational Technology Plan