In my view, it cannot be said that a particular entity is responsible for innovation of new technology, but instead innovation is driven by their own objectives and vested interests. Historically, government and defense budgets funded the foundational technologies that define our digital age. Interestingly, many of these innovations were originally designed for exclusive use but have become accessible to the public, now serving purposes beyond their initial design. For example, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funded by the government initially focused on military research and while they were experimenting on how to link computers they made ARPANET, the precursor of modern internet. This technology was eventually made public because of its broader potential applications for civilians.
Similarly, corporate innovations are driven to make new technologies because of their profit motives or commitment to problem-solving. Open source ventures are also often initiated with specific goals that might turn into collaborative platforms, contributing unintended but valuable innovations to shared knowledge. While there might be a need for funding, the organic nature of innovation suggests that diverse entities — governments, corporations, and open ventures — contribute to technological progress nevertheless. In conclusion, innovation is a collaborative effort where the shared responsibility among all pushes humanity forward into a future shaped with the creativity of individuals and organizations alike.
