Technology

Obama Announces New High-Tech Manufacturing Effort

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Imagining advances from lighter cars to smarter robots, President Barack Obama is announcing a $500 million project to spur high-technology manufacturing, a sector of U.S. industry that presidential advisers say has lost ground to such competitors as Germany and Japan.

On Friday in Pittsburgh, Obama is to call for a joint effort by industry, universities and the federal government to help reposition the United States as a leader in cutting-edge manufacturing, including biotechnology, robotics and nanotechnology — the development of new materials at the molecular level.

The initiative represents yet another effort by Obama to promote job-creation in the midst of an economic slowdown that has reduced hiring and weakened his job approval standing with the public. The president has tried to elevate his profile on the economy with weekly job-related trips to states that are key to his re-election.

In 2008, Obama beat John McCain, his Republican opponent, by a 55-45 percent margin in Pennsylvania. But presidential elections are usually competitive there, making the state a 2012 battleground.

He is to launch his new high-tech plan at Carnegie Mellon University, one of six universities in what the administration is calling the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership. The plan also features 11 manufacturing companies, including Ford Motor Co., Caterpillar Inc., Procter & Gamble Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. Leading the effort will be Andrew Liveris, chairman, president and CEO of the Dow Chemical Corp., and Susan Hockfield, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“The idea here is that we’re bringing together all of the key players in a collaborative partnership to help identify these promising technologies, to invest in these promising technologies and to use them to drive a revitalization of American manufacturing,” said Ron Bloom, assistant to the president for manufacturing policy.

Obama will be touring the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute, which is building machines that can help with bomb disposal, brain surgery, lawn mowing and paint scraping. Ultimately, some scientists at the institute are trying to figure out whether robots and humans can “treat each other as equal partners or teammates.”

The administration’s plan includes $70 million for a robotics initiative. It also is aiming $300 million toward national security industries and $100 million for research and training to more quickly develop advanced materials at lower costs. Some of the $500 million would come from existing allocations to government agencies, but other money is only reflected in Obama’s 2012 budget request and would require approval by Congress.

Bloom envisioned nanotechnology that could create stronger but lighter materials.

“And what that means is, if we can be the leader in creating these kinds of materials, then we’re going to have cars that are lighter, but yet as strong; we’re going to have airplanes that are light and consume less energy in order to power them,” he said.

The initiative is the brainchild of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. In a report issued Friday, the council warned that U.S. leadership in manufacturing is at risk. It said the United States has been losing research and development associated with manufacturing to other countries. Most importantly, the council noted, the United States is losing the manufacturing competition for products that were invented in the U.S., including laptop computers, flat panel displays and lithium ion batteries.

In a teleconference with reporters, Bloom rejected a suggestion that the effort could be criticized because it could single out beneficiaries at the expense of others

“We’re not trying to pick a winner,” Bloom said. “We just want to give entrepreneurs and innovators tools to work with.”

___

Associated Press writer Kevin Begos contributed to this report.

Comments (36)

  • ObserverOnTheHill
    Posted on July 14, 2012 at 9:10pm

    Hmmm… Ron Bloom ? Oh yeah, “We kind of agree with Mao that power comes largely from the barrel of a gun.”

    A great book on how the communists have taken over our institutions – churches, schools, businesses, government, Military and now our court system is

    – The Naked Truth: The Naked Communist – Revisited
    by James C. Bowers

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Naked-Truth-Communist-Revisited/dp/093616316X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339153878&sr=8-1

    He discusses how W. Cleon Skousen ( author of the 5000 Year Leap ) was an FBI agent for 16 years and was concerned about the implementation of what he felt were the top 45 stated goals of the communists at that time. You will be shocked how successfully their plans have been completed. A MUST READ book for any freedom loving American. Please pass on to others when done reading – SPREAD THE WORD

    Also – A MUST SEE – We were warned – watch the youtube video of Yuri Bezmenov, from the 80′s with G. Edward Griffin ( Jekyll Island author ). A Soviet KGB defector, he tells how it was his job to infiltrate these institutions and place communist supporters in positions of leadership and power. He was successful in doing so. Mind boggling stuff.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3qkf3bajd4

    Report Post »  
  • Midwest Blonde
    Posted on June 25, 2011 at 11:46am

    So ATMS are bad because they cause unemployment yet robots are good? Robots are going to be put in newly created jobs or take jobs from humans??

    This is beginning to read like a sci-fi novel. People will have nothing to do other than stuff that brings them pleasure (arts) and nothing more. No money, everyone on equal footing.

    Government provided homes (no choice, you get just enough room for yourself), government provided clothing (”sorry, purple isn’t available this year”), government food (”don‘t worry what it’s made of, it’s healthy!”), and most likely government raising your children in communal nurseries taken care of by robots, not to mention, you’ll be screened to see if your genetics are good enough to breed, then be told when and where and who to breed with.

    Yeah, that‘s what it’s looking like. Sounds like a peaceful world right? Let the robots of the world do everything difficult and soon, people will be come extinct. We’re already becoming irrelevant.

    Report Post » Midwest Blonde  
  • CrazyChuck
    Posted on June 25, 2011 at 7:26am

    All I can say is Hail to Caesar August Obama , Oh most powerful Commisar,and the Roman Senators who grovel at his majesties’ feet. August Obama is building a Coliseum of Economic failure while playing golf and traveling. Hail to the August Obama

    Report Post »  
  • MUDFLAPS
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:57pm

    Im announcing today the end of all idiots in government, now all you idiots in DC go back to your respective villages.

    Report Post »  
  • Augie4
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 8:22pm

    We don‘t make clothes anymore because we can’t pay workers 25 cents an hour to make clothes. This public high-tech investment nonsense has got to stop. This is the USA, and as we all know China owns high tech. All you gotta do is get rid of that minimum wage, ban taxes on anyone making more than $500 a year, relieve our fine entrepreneurs of all workplace regulations, get rid of Social Security and Medicare, and we’ll be fine – hell, we might even give Cambodia and Bangladesh a run for their money.

    Report Post »  
  • Blackop
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 7:02pm

    Y’all hate black people, don’t you?

    Report Post »  
  • hempstead1944
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 4:32pm

    Makes you wonder where he got the money?

    Report Post »  
  • agameofthrones
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 4:30pm

    Would that 500 million be from the new taxes Geithner wants to slap on small businesses. Cause you all know the government always does it better than the private sector.

    Report Post » agameofthrones  
  • agameofthrones
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 4:29pm

    Where is the 500 million coming from?

    Report Post » agameofthrones  
  • Lt_Taz
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 4:13pm

    And all the High Tech jobs will be filled by ILLEGALS because americans just won’t want to do them. Will the workers be represented by the AFL-CIO, UAW, or who?

    Report Post »  
  • boca_chica
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 3:47pm

    I’m not wearing nanos. I still prefer shirt, shoes and pants-oh that’s right they are not made here anymore( must be why I have to order 2 sizes larger to get them to fit- my 20 year old clothes made in the U.S. still fit by real size markings). This is another diversion from the fact that so little consumer goods are made here anymore( even Intel motherboards are made in China-I never thought I would see that). Energy to run this new stuff-we don’t need no steeeenking energy-just ask a progressive. It will grow on trees, like the money(ours).

    Report Post »  
  • trevthomp
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 2:48pm

    Where is all the energy going to come from to power all these new machines and manufacturing?

    Report Post »  
  • ohiovalleywizard
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 2:41pm

    everyone in washington needs to go home to russia

    Report Post »  
  • fitsgibbons
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 1:49pm

    obama once again posing as a prez. How about helping out the oil industry you idiot. Thats where jobs are. Green technology is fine and dandy, but that will take too long before it creates enough jobs. DRILL…DRILL…DRILL. Oil and coal are here NOW, so why not tap into OUR natural resources. Fundamental transformation is what this bozo is all about. He wants to bury America and he’s doing a real good job…..obama has to go soon or we will all pay dearly.

    Report Post »  
  • jrfox
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 1:47pm

    4 more years of this and we will all work part time for the banks that are closed!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • ARIZONA VETERAN
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 12:47pm

    OBUMMER IS A AZZKLOWN, THIS WiLL PUT “ATM’s” OUT OF WORK!!!

    Report Post » ARIZONA VETERAN  
  • Hisemiester
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 12:41pm

    Be careful you folks, this idiot will pin a medal on one of the robots, That’s a Obamessional medal of Honour. What a strutting peacock. Did some one bring the shears or feather pluckers?

    Report Post »  
  • garylee123
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 12:25pm

    Ultimately, some scientists at the institute are trying to figure out whether robots and humans can “treat each other as equal partners or teammates.”
    Oh boy!!! A new democrat voting base…..pre programmed and ready to march.

    Report Post »  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 12:14pm

    ‘collaborative partnership’ said Ron Bloom, ‘assistant to the president for manufacturing policy’.
    They are both feet out of the closet on this one.,

    Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 12:12pm

    More ‘jobs’ programs from people who haven’t the slightest clue what a microchip is.. Grant money for academics that produce nothing but 5th rate automatons and 1rst rate propaganda.

    Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
  • 1TrueOne55
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 12:08pm

    He still misses the mark on this. He wants to give jobs/money to Colleges that can’t create jobs in any meaningful way because most of the technology has to go through Patent litigations to even get to market. That takes a long time and sometimes never sees the light of day.

    I have a suggestion, why don’t we power our cars and cities with “HYDROGEN” since it occurs naturally and when mixed with Oxygen in a combustion process produces water as a by-product?

    Report Post » 1TrueOne55  
  • knockered
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 11:36am

    This guy is just creating more confusion to distract from the real problems, he seems very good at that. We are falling behind because of the leaders we the people elected to lead us. As soon as we wake up and start over we will be on top again, if we can survive till 2012…just saying.

    Report Post »  
    • capitalismrocks
      Posted on June 25, 2011 at 10:51am

      Its Obama’s MO…. he says one thing one day and another thing another day, so you can never nail him down on anything and he tries to appease both sides…. in the end, all it creates its confusion and nothing moves forward, nothing gets done… he thinks he’s helping all sides and it helps him get votes for 2012, but he does nothing positive for the country and nothing for the economy and nothing for unemployment and wonders why and then blames ATM’s for the problem….

      I used ATM‘s in the 1980’s when 21 million jobs were created under Pres. Reagan, ATM‘s didn’t seem to be stealing jobs back then, or during the Clinton years when the deficit was being reduced and employment was steady… didn’t seem to affect the economy then either…. Obama makes excuses for everything wrong that he does, but never stands up and tried to be a man and admit HE is the problem.

      Report Post » capitalismrocks  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 11:21am

    And again this idiot misses the mark….

    Small businesses right now need better access to funding, and financing…. you had people getting no doc mortgages for a home, but small businesses who need money to grow and expand, they can’t get a dime… small businesses need money, not more taxes, not healthcare penalties…. money! they need money!!!

    If small businesses could get better access to capital, they could shop around, buy used or pre-owned equipment, expanded their operations, begin work on expanding their product lines, have more capital to expand their sales to more retailers and in the end… hire more people…

    So onto part 2 – loosening of employment regulations… allowing more small businesses to hire more part timers… better to have some work, then no work… Keep Unions out of companies — all States need to adopt Right to Work… fine, if a person wants to join a Union, they can do so of their own choice and own free will, but if they don’t want to, then they don’t have to…. this means that Unions can’t bully and cripple companies, they can still do their jobs to negotiate with companies, but only for those individuals who choose to be under a Union umbrella… for those who want to go it alone and work directly with companies for their time, wages and benefits.. that is up to the individual, not some Union….

    Companies need to network… for instance, plastic manufacturers… some are slow and others are busy, offload small jobs t

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
    • Sad4theUS
      Posted on June 24, 2011 at 4:48pm

      And he wants more taxes for small businesses too… along with forcing them to buy his ObummerCare!
      Yeah, he’s a real swell small business friendly guy, ain’t he?? Just makes ya wanna vote him back in next year huh? Juuust kidding…. put your rocks and sticks back down…

      Report Post » Sad4theUS  
  • Tit of the Iceberg
    Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:55am

    I hop there are JOBS and better than we get ususal for JOBS around here

    Report Post » MONICNE  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:57am

      “Smarter robots”? Isn’t this the same man that said ATMs are taking American jobs. Can Obama make up his mind or is that what the teleprompter told him to say.

      Report Post »  
    • The_Bees_Assume
      Posted on June 24, 2011 at 11:12am

      We are talking about helping some ambitious workaholic NANO technology entrepreneurs make some money and hire some engineering support. This could have a big impact on areas where people with advanced degrees are out of engineering work. So this will be at or near big universities. Colleges and Universities are run by progressives, and are surrounded by student bodies of potential Voters.

      Does anyone else follow the money like I do?

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • fastfacts
      Posted on June 24, 2011 at 12:21pm

      CAMPAIGNER-AND-CHIEF

      Don’t let Obama get away with the things he has just started doing right before the election. Releasing the oil reserve, campaigning. Jobs agenda, campaigning.

      Then he also tries to help his donors right before the elections. Example, the gay lobby. He takes so much money for them but watch what happens when they ask him about gay marriage: http://tiny.cc/x7j7z . He completely sidestepped their questions and preads. But are they stupid, no they react, remember they are activists http://tiny.cc/h1bxm . Hopefully they will be activists against Obama in 2012

      Report Post »  
    • USAMEDIC3008
      Posted on June 24, 2011 at 12:26pm

      GRANDMA
      I think I love you today
      An ATM that can give change, and make a
      Big Mac at the same time

      Report Post » USAMEDIC3008  
    • SpankDaMonkey
      Posted on June 24, 2011 at 12:37pm

      .
      Well how about that. Just spent the morning with a friend who was shutting down a 45 yr old family business. He ran boats in the Gulf in support of the Oil Industry. Dumb Ass Obama the Gulf and my friend did not need 70million. Just a little ink on a piece of paper syaing it was ok to go back to work.

      Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • dr_funk
      Posted on June 25, 2011 at 12:47am

      I like how the dictator thinks he can just “command” things into existence.

      “I command you to make better stuff! Do it now! Or I’ll raise your taxes!!!”

      What kind of an incentive is that???

      Report Post »  

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