UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ writes about the importance of basic research. She writes:
In contrast to applied research, fundamental research is driven by our natural curiosity about the universe and our place in it. It is not tied to a desired outcome or pegged to a specific application or even intended to result in any immediate “payoff.” In time, however, discoveries in such research can become the foundation for entirely new industries and can benefit society tremendously.
https://news.berkeley.edu/2019/02/26/on-my-mind-chancellor-carol-christ/