Technology Innovation and President Bush

I was pleased to hear the President use the word "innovation" several times during his State of the Union speech last night (see transcript here).

Things I liked in the speech which affect us all as technologists:

a) Investment in Math and Science education

As I wrote on Monday, I was pleased to hear him say

"Tonight I announce the American Competitiveness Initiative, to encourage innovation throughout our economy, and to give our nation's children a firm grounding in math and science."

b) Energy initiative

"We will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind technologies; and clean, safe nuclear energy."

"We will increase our research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen."

"Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025."

c) Technology in health care

"We will make wider use of electronic records and other health information technology, to help control costs and reduce dangerous medical errors."

d) The reality of globalization and the need to lead, not hide from it

"In a dynamic world economy, we are seeing new competitors like China and India.  This creates uncertainty, which makes it easier to feed people's fears."

"Keeping America competitive requires us to open more markets for all that Americans make and grow.  One out of every five factory jobs in America is related to global trade, and we want people everywhere to buy American." 

"Americans should not fear our economic future, because we intend to shape it."

In line with what I wrote in China/India: Shouldn't we be worried?

e) Balanced immigration policy

"We hear claims that immigrants are somehow bad for the economy -- even though this economy could not function without them."

"And we must have a rational, humane guest worker program that rejects amnesty, allows temporary jobs for people who seek them legally, and reduces smuggling and crime at the border."

In line with my views on immigration and also what Scott McNealy of Sun talked about recently.

I know folks will focus on the political aspects of the speech and people around the world still do not like him for Iraq and many other reasons, but for technologists around the world this was an extremely positive, upbeat speech. See also this article by John Chambers of Cisco on how to  implement and enhance many of the ideas the President talked about.