Back in Washington, the president has a fight on his hands with opposition Republicans over his "Win the Future" innovation drive. They have labeled many of his investment initiatives as "big spending" that can't be supported in difficult economic times.

Even as he proposes spending cuts in his 2012 budget aimed at bringing down the $1.3 trillion federal deficit, and more than $14 trillion national debt, Mr. Obama has vowed to fight to preserve investments in what he calls core areas vital to securing U.S. competitiveness.