President Obama will announce a $500 million project to spur high-technology manufacturing to help reposition the United States as a leader in the sector. At the same time the US is spending $500 million to “reposition” (the US is still the leader in technology despite what the administration thinks) the country as a leader in the technology sector, it is spending $20 billion a year on air condition for US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. (Full Story)

A one time investment of $500 million is not a lot of money compared to $20 billion annually on air conditioning and this has been likely happening for 10 years.

The $500 million will probably yield some new technologies over the coming years but the $20 billion a year in air conditioning – well there will be noting to show for it.

The President will make the announcement of the $500 million project at 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.