I think so, but it’s damn hard. I’ve tried to use innovative processes in grant proposals but the reviewing process strongly selects for “conservative”/“traditional” approaches — especially for big funds. So paradoxical that a major brake on research innovation is that selection process.

It's a long term struggle. Really hard because institutions and organizations are so resistant to change. But change is inevitable nonetheless. In which direction is hard to tell.

The structures and individual incentives can both pull in more conservative directions.