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That funding to a for profit corporation should be in the form of an interest free or low interest loan to be paid back once the tech is profitable. To encourage development and making it worth it to take that risk on new tech, if said tech does not become profitable then the "loan" would not have to be repaid.



Think that would be an excellent concept, or perhaps as is the case with our company, combine a grant or low/zero-interest loan with a requirement for matching private investment, coupled with clear financial oversight to ensure nothing like Solyndra happens (or should happen). Sometimes new technologies, especially ones which require infrastructure improvements or changes, are just TOO capital intensive for ANY company to tackle, no matter how promising the reward. Shoot, the Transcontiental Railroad held out INCREDIBLE promises in sped up transportation, reduced transport costs, efficiency, safety, etc..., but would never have happened if the US Gov't had not paid by the mile for the UP and others to survey and lay track across the US, because it was simply too costly for a handful of companies to finance, even with private investment.