What about a National Cash Contest for technology advances?

(I posted this in GD, but got totally ignored and pissed on)

Here's my Idea:

The Govt or some big investors get together and sponsor a contest or grant award, etc for thos garage tinkerers and closet scientists to come up with some working prototypes ... ideas for replacement or a 'kit' to convert the combustion engine, help with sand and bio cleanup,animal rescue etc... new energy , you name it...

Look, Kevin Costner had a ton of extra income to spend on his concept.
But the *Principle* of someone using their ideas or gifts in an unusual way can be the best thing to happen to us as a species.

Isn't this what we have been saying all along? *we are our own saviors*
Well, let's put our collective money where our mouth is!

what do you think?
(and if you can, please give the GD version of this some love too)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8393150

But, alas, I don't have the money. My dream is to have a ton of money and be able to do studies on various energetic healing techniques, have them written up in journals, etc.

There are plenty of tinkerers out there that probably have great ideas.

I don't like the idea of a contest because the entity giving the award would expect to receive property rights to the invention. An inventor would be better off trying to get the patent himself and getting the financial rewards that come with it.
IMHO.

save up a bit to get solar panel roof tiles or wind generator, starting with the family least likely to move anytime soon (or dealing w/ HOA with heads up their asses). if a critical mass of private generation occurs on and around private roofs, then maybe the transition into a state or nationwide communal micro-generation system could be possible...