Tech industry advocates could easily spot some longstanding
items from the innovation agenda within President Obama’s State of the Union
address Tuesday night.
President Obama said “innovation demands basic research.” He
warned Congress not to gut these programs when they balance the budget. Obama
reminded them that federal research is what led to innovations like the
computer chip and the Internet. He also spoke briefly about the need to
complete the high speed broadband network, which is a platform for all sorts of
innovation.
The president touted the recently passed trade bills saying
it would put the United States ahead of schedule of his goal to double exports
in the next five years. As the largest exporter, the tech industry had been
advocating for these agreements to pass since before Obama came to office.
President Obama called for comprehensive immigration reform,
but noted if that was too political that Congress should at the least ensure
that those graduating with advanced degrees should be given visas – not
returned home to compete against the United States.
He announced he would create a Trade Enforcement Unit to
investigate unfair trade practices abroad. CCIA has told Congress it considers
Internet censorship by some countries to be a violation of our trade
agreements.
There was no direct mention of the Internet censorship
bills, SOPA and PIPA that narrowly escaped a vote in the senate this
month. But the president did speak
against regulations that would reduce investment for start ups and there is
certainly a link between venture capitalist investment, according to a Harvard Business School study which CCIA commissioned. Online liability
rules like the ones that SOPA and PIPA would have added. President
Obama asked Congress to “tear down regulations that prevent entrepreneurs from
getting the finances they need to grown.”
The president also advocated for tax deductions for
businesses that manufacture products here and said that deduction should be
double for high tech companies.
