This is the case with pretty much all fundamental research because it takes a long time to do, and requires a lot of sustained investment without any direct profit. Companies simply swoop in at the end stages and start commercializing what was developed using public money.
Every single technology that went into the iPhone was developed with public money:
You know what is it that apple patented and trademarked? Rounded edges.
This is the case with pretty much all fundamental research because it takes a long time to do, and requires a lot of sustained investment without any direct profit. Companies simply swoop in at the end stages and start commercializing what was developed using public money.