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The most important sailing expeditions to the New World were funded by European crowns. The atomic bomb was developed exclusively through government research.
by Daishiman 14y ago
The most important sailing expeditions to the New World were funded by European crowns.
The atomic bomb was developed exclusively through government research.
The vast majority of space program was developed through government funds, and what wasn't done by them was delegated and coordinated by them (and ultimately paid for as well).
Public universities are the largest and most important institutions doing basic research, and doing a lot of the actual innovation in medical research. Fewer and fewer companies are still dedicated to that (witness HP and Xerox withdrawing from the field; IBM is pretty much the only giant still putting resources into that).
The German and Chinese governments are subsidising solar energy research to the effect that its viability as an alternative power source has increased dramatically in the last decade.
Tell me how many companies nowadays are actually spending real money into research programs where the expected outcomes will reach fruition in 20 years or more.
- caseysoftware 14y agoMost of the successful "government research" projects were to make money or engage in war better. Those sailing expeditions were to gain resources (make money) or conquer new lands (make money). The atomic bomb and space programs were built for military ends. The internet was built for military resiliency. GPS was for targeting and tracking. Basic research does require a long term view.. but I would suggest that even government doesn't have that as evidenced by the financial messes they've caused because the bills don't have to be paid until "later."
- Daishiman 14y agoYou're assuming that funding basic research has anything to do with budgetary deficit. It doesn't, because basic research is a very, very small section of all research budgets, and the returns on investment are massive on the long term.
- zeteo 14y agoCan some kinds of projects be conducted better with government support? Yes. Should almost all scientific research depend on the same support? Probably not. Projects that are not due to realize either great profits or publicity coups within a politician's expected term of office will find government a very fickle and small-minded master.
- leot 14y agoSome governments, certainly, are fickle and small-minded. Others decidedly less so. The Harper government, e.g., has chosen a chiropractor as its science and technology minister.
- dnautics 14y agoI can attest to this. Over the last two years, my project support has whiplashed from "being the dark stepchild within the DOE (and hated by Steven Chu)", to after solyndra, "pitched in front of huge crowds by Steven Chu", to after his resignation "unlikely to be renewed next year".