What is fair to ask Society to fund ?

Abstract

Our world is strongly driven by technological developments that continuously create new markets and shape individual taste and choice. The scale of dissemination of the most recent technological breakthroughs and the capability of creating them is what divides wealthy societies from poor ones. The increasing sophistication of these developments make it harder and harder for developing countries to actively contribute to these breakthroughs as well as to acquire the right to benefit from them through the exchange of products obtained through low-tech agriculture, industry and services. Thus, as new technological developments rely often on discoveries in fundamental science and technology that have their origins, in some instances, many decades ago, it is only through fostering the acquisition of the skills necessary for innovation in basic science and technology that economical and social progress can be insured on a long term basis. In this perspective, funding of research is an investment for the future and clearly, just buying technology is no short cut to create sustainable wealth. Furthermore, Society should fund fundamental research for cultural and training reasons. Indeed, as a representative of a country or of a culture in a given historical period, activities assertive of cultural and national identities should be funded. These involve necessarily scientific developments too. Moreover, experience shows that the best training for innovation is acquired from individuals and institutions that have an active interest in basic science and on its application to technology.