the technoligy isnt the problem, there are many very bright scientists that given the opertunity and resourses could make significant breakthroughs
the problem is funding and burocracy, its the exact same reasion why there were several million dollers to study somthing as stupid as that, the people who are in charge of where the money goes dont know what they are doing, they are shortsided and afraid of change
case in point, fusion, there is no doubt that given enough funding we could have functional fusion generatiors within 5 years, but congress is extremely reluctant to give them the funds they need, why? because most congeressmen got the money for their campains by oil tycoons or themselves are in the oil busness
so its not a matter of science, its a matter of money