There a definitely instances where technolog breakthroughs in the private sector have been removed from the marketplace and shelved by much larger companies.
If you don't think the government hasn't done that as well, you are kidding yourself. Except the government has the ability and authority to control it under the umbrella of "National Security".
> There a definitely instances where technology breakthroughs in the private sector have been removed from the marketplace and shelved by much larger companies. <
I agree. There are three main players in the research game: the government, private companies, and universities. The government is corrupt. Private companies can be bought out, as you noted.
If there are to be any fundamental breakthroughs, they will probably come from universities. Tenured science professors have a freedom that’s very rare elsewhere. That was my point.