If this theory about the grant system is right, then we should expect to see philanthropy-funded research pull ahead. Philanthropists will vary in how much the

If this theory about the grant system is right, then we should expect to see philanthropy-funded research pull ahead. Philanthropists will vary in how much they tolerate long-shot ideas; but will generally not tolerate a recipient sitting around doing nothing -- and even if they do, it's their own money. The only question then is whether there is enough philanthropic research around. Are there perhaps, 2000 different projects around the world getting something like 5M USD each from an philanthropists? Or does the modern zeitgeist that assumes science funding is a thing for governments to do crowd it out?