In 2008 DARPA kickstarted a major research effort into cleaner, cheaper ways to make transportation fuels from coal[1]. There was at least one transformational technology opening up large chemical and materials markets that came out of that effort.[2]

[1] https://www.wired.com/2008/09/darpas-coal-to/

[2] https://www.usea.org/event/coals-bright-future-unlocking-new...