Re-thinking the main goals of biological sciences: is it possible to build new knowledge without fundamental research?

Relationships between collective scientific knowledge and country's economic prosperity and competitiveness have been described. Hence, interaction between industry and academic institutions is seen as a way to valorize this knowledge at social and economic levels. The ability to translate scientific knowledge in social and economic benefits is now receiving most of the funding for public research. However, and despite the evident long-term benefits of funding applied science, drastic reduction of budget for fundamental research may eventually lead to the opposite outcome.