[wallflower]

If you read the science fiction series "The Three-Body Problem" (highly recommended), it makes a very compelling argument that fundamental research is the most important investment in the future.

For example, fusion drives, not traditional stored rocket propellant engines, will be necessary to navigate between planets and the outer solar system. Also, existing known behaviors/laws of physics aside, the book posits that colonization of other planets/stars in the universe requires achieving light speed travel (along with hibernation technology).

However, the other argument the book series makes is that there needs to be a strong motivator to get all the countries and economies of the world to focus on fundamental research and applying it.

[nine_k]

The mother planet reaps no material benefits from colonizing another star. Those groups who colonize it get a world if their own.

So interests of Earth governments are not aligned with star travel, and only marginally aligned with colonizing e.g. Mars. Those groups who want to ho there will have to do it themselves. (See Elon Musk.)

[wallflower]

> The mother planet reaps no material benefits from colonizing another star.

In the book series, without giving away too much of the plot, the handful of countries that acquire and develop spaceflight technology/space bases become political powers in their own right.

If you watch or read "The Expanse", the political shifts are similar. The colony on Mars, in particular, is particularly threatening and powerful.

[gech]

Hmm. What about an escape mechanism for its people at least? Or scarce mineral resources that could be brought back?

[nine_k]

Scarce minerals from the asteroid belt? Already in R&D (google "Planetary Resources"). Shipping anything in bulk from another star system? Unlikely even with the fabled "teleportation" tech.