They were simply trying to create a system by which large expensive mainframes used by defense analysts in the government and large research universities could communicate with each other.

FORBES: A Teachable Moment Courtesy Of Solyndra

Inevitably the large but limited public funds disbursed to research institutes and universities would become bones of political contention, attracting courtesans, lobbyists, and consumers as only a large honeypot of dollars does.

FORBES: Big Science, Big Government

But policymakers have also begun to realise that world-class universities produce a disproportionately large share of cutting-edge ideas and research.

ECONOMIST: The best is yet to come