[chiefalchemist]

A comparable solution would be for all involved to value all research, not just the ground breaking, earth shattering type.

As it is, research that yields a "failure" is buried. That means wheels are being reinvented and re-failed. That means there's no opportunity to compare similar "failures", be inspired, and come up with the magic that others overlooked.

Unfortunately, I would imagine, even if you can get researchers to agree to this the lawyers are going to have a shit fit. Imagine Google using an IBM "failure" for something truly innovative.