The US government’s first technology officer, Aneesh Chopra, has come under fire from industry insiders who claim that the government currently hinders forward movement in high-tech innovation. As he talked at the Las Vegas based Consumer Electronics Show he was applauded for revealing that he understood how important technology was in helping the economy.
However, as Mr Chopra made the positive comments, Gary Sharpiro, consumer industry head of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), was quick to add that a declining economy had not been positive for technology. “When it comes to innovation there’s a lot the government can do, and there’s a lot they should not do. The government doesn’t spur innovation or entrepreneurship. The government often gets in the way.” He added the fluctuating economy had caused American’s to reprioritise, with 96per cent now believing that high-tech innovation is critical for the US to remain as an economic leader.
Criticising the government, the CEA said that laws needed to be relaxed to allow skilled workers from China and Indian to more easily enter the country. In addition they warned that President Obama’s stimulus act was “panic spending”. Responding to the claims, Mr Chopra said “We don’t have to agree on every issue, but we can always say we have room for improvement to spur innovation and entrepreneurship.” He added that the US government were planning to meet with the “most innovative companies in the country to directly advise us to make government more efficient and more effective”.
