Performance based bounty system to replace research grants that don't produce results

Economy
1

Research Funding Bounty System Proposal

Replace government-funded research not in the hard sciences with a performance-based bounty system:

  1. Clear goals and success criteria defined upfront
  2. Success criteria measured independently, publicly, and transparently
  3. Bounties set based on potential market value (e.g., 5-year projection)
  4. Successful innovations become public domain
  5. Rewards paid as lump sum (tax-free) or annuities
  6. Bounty-seeking expenditures are tax-deductible but not reimbursable

Benefits:

  • Encourages innovation and efficiency
  • Ensures public access to breakthrough technologies
  • Reduces risk of incomplete or endless research projects
  • Aligns incentives with practical outcomes

Examples:

  • Bounty for a 100 mpg internal combustion engine design, rather than funding ongoing research.
  • A super capacitor for EVs
  • Water powered engine
  • Safe pesticides
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