I think that certain priorities can be and actually are being dictated by the market.
However, because of the market failures that I explained, there are needs that are not being properly met and sectors that are being poorly served. The government can act as a spark plug to get things moving. In some cases, this is urgent. Given climate change or the health problems associated with the pandemics that could be looming in the next few years, we can't wait for things to change in the markets.
I am trying to explain that it is obviously difficult to decide on good moonshot programs. Each organization or company is going to propose its ideas. In my presentation, I did not have time to talk about the importance of international discussions for determining the greatest needs on the planet. I gave the example of climate change, but in what field do we have the greatest need for innovation, and what directions have the most potential for positive change to enable us to face those challenges?
I think we should rely more on a consultation with our international partners and the international organizations that are working on these questions in order to establish the objectives of moonshot programs. We should also rely more on our academics, who are experts in various fields and are a little more neutral than the people with something to sell.