A group of independent scientists has recently approached the government, stating that for the past few years they have been working on advanced technologies - but their combined personal funds have run out. They request a substantial sum of funds as a government research grant to not only support their families but to advance their research. There is a chance that they aren't so close to a breakthrough as they profess - do we want to take the chance that we are flushing our money down a hole just for the promise of technology?
I think we should get government think-tanks to examine what they've done, and then decide.