[sammorrowdrums]

This. Companies and academia too.

This has been a huge part of academic investment by government too. Yes we'll sponsor your PHD in this area because (often without the academics direct knowledge) we have a need in a certain area and we think this might help.

That might be signal reflection calculation (like more precise GPS in a place with tall buildings).

It might be a new kind of harder material (carbon nanotubes/ graphene).

Or perhaps it's a better understanding of a drug / mental health / the mind that has a side-effect of having nefarious applications as well as helpful ones being considered.

Even if the result is that it doesn't work, the armed forces and clandestine services are very interested in the outcomes of research that might fix a piece of their puzzle.