How do scientific methods contribute to the development of modern science?

Would it be desirable to pass a law requiring everyone or every company that benefits financially from a technology, or that requires customers to interact with it, to contribute to innovation in that field?

• For example: * Companies using username/password authentication on websites would be required to contribute to development of new authentication methods that solve the problems of hackability and the interchangability/memory tradeoff. * Companies running parking garages would be required to contribute to development of cars or vehicles that do not require parking. * Companies requiring companies to manipulate large numbers of paper documents would be required to contribute to innovative ways of creating such documents that cannot be lost or confused.

• Answer:

  I don't think so. You're talking about mandating additional specialization to organizations that are centered around one skillset already. Doing this means that any new company would have to work doubly hard to exist and compete in a market, because not only does it have to take care of itself, it also has to take care of its own field, and the expense increase just to follow the law will make it undesirable to continue business. Older companies with more influence and resources will feel less of a dent with the R&D requirements.