At first I thought I was missing something in the details of President-Elect Obama's proposed stimulus plan.  Searching for details on how to spur innovation, especially technological innovation, I came up empty handed. I thought it was a bit strange, but then again, I live in the heart of Silicon Valley, whose raison d'etre is technology and innovation, and where companies live and die by how far ahead of the curve they are.

So it was with some relief that I read Janet Rae-Dupree's article giving voice to this precise concern.  Apparently, the details of the stimulus package have not gone unnoticed in these parts, especially the focus on job creation in industries that will help rebuild the nation's infrastructure. Rae-Dupree interviewed a number of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, who made a strong case for investing in the nation’s digital infrastructure.   Expanding internet access, digitalizing health records, and providing tax credits to companies that innovate technologies in general would be a great place to start.

More intriguing, however, is the idea of the government supporting innovation more broadly--technological and otherwise.  This seems essential to restoring America's lead in innovation.  A forward-looking stimulus package will invest not only in restoring our country's crumbling infrastructure, but will also be be (in the words of one of Rae-Dupree's interviewees) "stimovation"-- a stimulus package that rewards innovation.