I think the point of those kinds of small grants is not to revolutionise anything, and not even to evolve anything necessarily. Rather I think the purpose is ju

I think the point of those kinds of small grants is not to revolutionise anything, and not even to evolve anything necessarily. Rather I think the purpose is just exactly what you experienced. Get people off the metaphorical couch and start tinkering with the technology you want them to tinker with. If the grant can motivate them to spend their time on learning that technology then the grant-giver's goal is accomplished, for the very small price of $5000 per person.