Comment by refurb

It's not like the state doesn't do that in Western nations. Look at solar power in the US. Tax incentives from manufacturing, installation and the end user.

The issue is that the state doesn't have a crystal ball. It's still just picking winners and losers (and often gets it wrong).

It can't predict which technology will be the winner in the end. And in fact it tends to "force" it's choice of technology which can end up retarding adoption of the actual winner.

Imagine if the US government had gotten behind the technology of video cassette recording. It would have gone all in on Betamax.

I'd much prefer the government making it easier for private entities to pursue the research themselves and let the market determine the winner.