When President Obama gave his State of the Union address on Jan. 25, he talked as lot about how the U.S. needs to invest in innovation in order to remain competitive with the rest of the world.

The federal government plays a critical role in helping to invest and encourage innovation throughout various sectors, including technology, biotechnology, alternative energy sources, medicine, pharmaceuticals, engineering and other disciplines. But the wherewithal for the U.S. to compete in the global market doesn't fall solely on the federal government, much less the President. Still, here are a few recommendations for helping to spur innovation in the U.S. without undermining a federal government that's already saddled with debt.

China is on pace to become the world's most important source for innovation by 2020, overtaking both the U.S. and Japan, according to a public opinion survey conducted by drugmaker AstraZeneca that will be released next week.

According to the survey results, which were pre-released earlier this week, the U.S. is currently viewed as the world's most innovative country, according to 30 percent of the 6,000 people who were polled, followed by Japan with 25 percent and China at 14 percent.

I have the benefit of being a “non-traditional age” college student.  That means I’m in my 40’s and going to college to finish my degree.  I also have the benefit of having one of the best teachers I’ve ever had for my Programming 1 class.  He is really concerned that we learn what he is teaching.  He doesn’t care if we pass the class, if we haven’t learned the material.  It is rare to have a teacher like that, especially in college.