Prizes are better than patents for early stage high risk tech that the plan wants to spur

Some algae-based products might most effectively be incentivized by prizes. Prizes are especially appropriate for incentivizing high-risk research on technologies that are still at their earliest stages. 415 Scientists still need to conduct basic research regarding several potential algae applications--such as biofuels and bioplastics--to establish their viability at acceptable costs. 416 Technical challenges and limitations still preclude these avenues. 417While centralized decision making might not be advantageous, the government might be best positioned to fund this basic research until directions and products become more apparent. Thus, prizes--which encourage a wide range of participation, perspectives, and directions--would be particularly appropriate. 418 Furthermore, because of the uncertainty of the paths forward, prizes have several advantages. First, they are likely to encourage participation by additional persons than might otherwise conduct this research. 419 Second, and related to the first, prizes are more likely to engender a wide range of solutions, including some not contemplated by the prize organizers. 420Finally, algae uses are still at their initial stages, so prizes are particularly well-suited incentives. 421 Prizes would be superior to patents because of the latter's provision of exclusive rights, which tends to discourage follow-on inventions. 422 Indeed, organizers could even break the prizes into a series of smaller prizes to further encourage follow-on or cumulative inventions. 423