The government wishes to spur innovation in certain directions because it feels investment in those areas is lacking - presumably based on analysis of potential

The government wishes to spur innovation in certain directions because it feels investment in those areas is lacking - presumably based on analysis of potential benefit of successful development in that area (eg. alternative energy, electric cars, commercial space travel). The incumbents in those sectors do not act to meet these perceived gaps. An upstart outsider comes in with aim of disrupting those industries. This feels like incentive programs are doing exactly what they're designed for. Author should spend a couple of minutes investigating economic concepts of externalities as justification for taxation and subsidies. The comment re. hypocrisy of opposing something a grant program you were a recipient of is a different matter from rent seeking, and yes without context (which I do not have) it sounds pretty bad form.