[spinarrets]

On the flip side, accepting this funding has allowed for a lot of research to progress. Sometimes those strings attached still lead to a net good. Obviously, you should always have a plan for "what if this source of funding goes to zero, suddenly", and be prepared to walk away if needs be. But it's hard to imagine what university research would be like if they didn't accept Federal funding. (Much, much weaker, I'd imagine.)

[yieldcrv]

> If the usefulness of the work has proven itself now, then other sources can fund it.

[beej71]

Let's remember that China funds all kinds of research, not just the research with guaranteed profit. (Indeed, private industry already funds research with guaranteed profit.)

[aaomidi]

There’s a lot of work that is “useful” but the return on investment is not direct, but rather indirect.

For example I don’t remember the detail exactly but this professors insistence to study extremophiles has directly translated to many improvements in medicine.

[yieldcrv]

there are many sources that don't look for profits, its illuminating that both respondents so far assumed that

[spinarrets]

What other sources? You can't just hand wave like that, make a specific proposal.

[yieldcrv]

The University’s endowment

Non profits

Various agencies in every municipal government

Various agencies in every state government

Various agencies in every other nation’s national government