[avz]

I'm baffled. How does the need for public financing make a project "loose before the match even beings"? The project needs public financing because private investors wouldn't shoulder the risk.

Most significant leaps of technological innovation in the history of civilization required public support. And as we move on the leaps will become harder and riskier still which means even less willingness of the private investors to put up the money. So brace yourself :P