For individual projects, it has already happened. BSD development, for example, was sponsored by DARPA in the 1980s. The German government supported the GnuPG p

For individual projects, it has already happened. BSD development, for example, was sponsored by DARPA in the 1980s. The German government supported the GnuPG project for a while. I am certain there are more examples - but you are right in that it has not been done systematically. (Which does not invalidate your point one way or the other.)