Office of Science and Technology Policy Blog

Advances in nanotechnology are already driving economic growth and addressing a broad range of national challenges. The realization of nanotechnology’s full potential will require continued research and flexible, science-based approaches to regulation that protect public health and the environment while promoting economic growth, innovation, competitiveness, exports, and job creation.

Congratulations to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Rockefeller and Ranking Member Hutchison for their leadership today in passing signature spectrum legislation through Committee that will serve as the foundation for the next chapter in America’s wireless broadband revolution.

Earlier this month, we were honored to be invited to the Team America Rocketry Challenge held about 50 miles outside Washington, DC. There, hundreds of middle- and high-school students were participating in a model rocketry competition sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association.

The Obama Administration believes it is critical to tap the ingenuity and creativity of America’s students if we are to find solutions to the grand challenges of today.

On the 50th anniversary of one of the most memorable “grand challenge” declarations in history—President Kennedy’s call for a commitment of “landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth”—OSTP's Tom Kalil takes time out to thank today's engineering students for devoting their lives to finding solutions to 21st century grand challenges.

This week, The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) launched an initiative to engage every American in the design of a simpler mortgage disclosure form.

Last Thursday, following President Obama's call for a national conversation on fixing our immigration system, U.S. CTO Aneesh Chopra joined 25 entrepreneurs in Omaha, NE, to engage in such a discussion.

The economic security and vitality of the United States has always been deeply rooted in American innovation. Time and time again, the story of our growth has been written by the daring drive of entrepreneurs who were willing to roll the dice on just an idea.

Fifteen years ago, Boulder was considered a sleepy college town known mostly for its great rock-climbing. Today, Boulder is home to one of the strongest entrepreneurial communities in the country, with close to 200 fledgling tech companies and a city campaign that proclaims “Boulder is for startups.”

This Mother’s Day, new mothers and mothers-to-be can text “BABY” to 511411 to sign up for text4baby, a free, mobile health information service that offers useful tips timed to a woman’s due date or baby’s date of birth.

Kudos to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, USAID Administrator Raj Shah, Johnson & Johnson CEO William Weldon, and their colleagues at the United Nations Foundation, the mHealth Alliance, and BabyCenter on the launch of the Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action, a new public-private partnership to improve maternal and child health by harnessing the power of mobile technology to deliver vital health information to expectant and new mothers.

There were activities of all kinds for everyone to participate in at the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, but there was particular excitement about those featuring science.

When the White House launched the Startup America initiative less than 90 days ago, the President issued a call to action to the private sector, challenging leaders of companies, universities, and foundations to dramatically accelerate the success of America’s high-growth entrepreneurs.

The Shared Responsibility and Shared Prosperity town hall hosted by the President will be followed by two panel discussions, one focused on the Startup America initiative to accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship and one focused on the role of Women in Technology.