Philippines

I'm assuming you're saying this because you believe that the military will protect your interest. Good luck with that. I wish I were wrong.

Yes I think that's basically the number one mission of the government. Everything the government does is inheritly to reduce poverty (despite how corrupt it is). Education, quality jobs, healthcare, housing and peace and order. Space exploration is also one, if Philippines manage to become competitive in this area this could produce jobs in turn at least alleviate those in poverty. Might even give us edge with other countries. Will improve existing weather monitoring systems. Introduce technology that could be game changing.

On one hand, it's true that the pursuit of pure(-ish) science (like space exploration) is a luxury that an economy like ours can ill afford, but on the other hand, it is the advances made from such pursuits that allowed countries such as the US to take their lead and take it to further heights. Moreover, technological advances made in space exploration have been applied in military applications, and then consumer applications.

However, it's an increasingly insecure world. And the more insecure the world becomes (and it is becoming more and more insecure owing to the changes happening around us), the more nations try to lock-in their technologies, and the more countries who have fallen behind suffer the consequences. I see this trend being behind this push. We need to develop own scientific and technological capabilities or we risk being helplessly trampled upon by circumstances. It'd also be harder to maintain our anti-poverty initiatives without making sure that our industry have something for the people we're lifting out of poverty.

However, even if we assume the government pushes for science and technology development and devotes a lot of money into it, it'd be useless if it can't keep the brightest minds of our country. Balewala yang “Philippine Space Week” na yan kung basura naman ang suporta sa ating mga scientists, engineers and inventors. And unlike the US, we can't just poach the bright minds of other countries, ano ba ang mai-oofer natin sa kanila in the first place? Kung yung sarili nga natin di natin masuportahan ng matino eh.

Moreover, even if there's genuine support from the government (and local industry), if the society, the norms, the entire "human aspect" of the country isn't conducive to such people, then we can't expect those people to stay, much less to contribute. A good side effect of this is that it would encourage more people into pursuing their interests (be it science, technology, or whatever else), perhaps leading to people pursuing what they're really into, and seeing good results from it.

So, what am I trying to say here? While it is true that the pursuit of pure science is a luxury, it is increasingly becoming a necessity for our survival. However, in order to develop the capability to pursue pure science, we need the government to give its genuine support to the people who can make it happen: the scientists, the engineers, the technologists, the inventors. And in order to keep those people, not only does the government need to continue giving its genuine support, but society too, must be conducive to people who pursue knowledge for knowledge's sake, to people who are different from the mainstream.