The point is that projects funded DARPA-like, with an eye for really radical ideas, might lead to technologies that won't succeed in the market.
One issue is that projects to enhance oil production are primarily implemented to increase oil production with (tertiary recovery methods and any long term storage of CO2 is considered a potential ancillary benefit.
A notable benefit from this type of alignment is that projects and departments are more likely to gain much needed executive support if the efforts are contributing to the greater good of the company.
"What you'll find now is that projects already near completion will probably still come onstream as planned, but those in the planning process are not going to get off the ground for the next two years," says Deutsche Bank's Mark Lewis.
"I think that what we really like about Kickstarter is that projects are funded just because people think they're cool.
Another problem in the U.S. right now is that projects need to get up and running before government subsidies run out, and smaller projects are easier to complete.
