The timeframe aspect of research projects is really important. I think I heard Exxon's Corporate Strategic Research labs have a 10 to 20 plus year horizon. I'v

The timeframe aspect of research projects is really important. I think I heard Exxon's Corporate Strategic Research labs have a 10 to 20 plus year horizon. I've often wondered how one could provide the benefits of long-term, highly speculative projects to younger, smaller companies that think and operate entirely in present-tense terms. Something along the lines of strategic research as a service. Though I suppose companies that have a mutually beneficial dynamic with the open source projects they depend on, contributing time or resources, are realizing a good chunk of the potential value already.