Obama promises major investment in science - Yahoo! Finance

Obama promises major investment in science - Yahoo! Finance: "Obama promises major investment in science
Obama promises major investment in scientific research and development



WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Monday promised a major investment in research and development for scientific innovation, saying the United States has fallen behind others.

'I believe it is not in our character, American character, to follow -- but to lead. And it is time for us to lead once again. I am here today to set this goal: we will devote more than 3 percent of our GDP to research and development,' Obama said in a speech at the annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences.

'We will not just meet but we will exceed the level achieved at the height of the space race,' he said.

Obama said the investments he is proposing would lead to breakthroughs, such as solar cells as cheap as paint and green buildings that produce all the energy they consume."