Next week is innovation week at White House

[January 29, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is devoting much of next week to his goal of boosting American innovation, including a visit Wednesday to Penn State University and the launch of an effort to help new businesses get off the ground.

The White House said Friday that Obama will tour university labs at Penn State that are focused on solutions for energy-efficient buildings. He also will deliver remarks on the importance of spending money on innovation and clean energy to create jobs.

Penn State has a relationship with an "energy innovation hub" being developed at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia. Obama is not expected to travel there for a visit. The Energy Department is setting up a series of innovation hubs across the country, and the one under development in Philadelphia is being devoted to energy efficiency in buildings.

As for the rest of next week, Obama plans to discuss innovation with technology business leaders on Tuesday.

On Monday, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and administration officials and other business leaders are set to announce the initiative for start-ups with an eye toward spurring job creation.

In his State of the Union address this week, Obama outlined a plan for America to "win the future" by leading the world in the areas of innovation, education and building its infrastructure.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.