Baŝto

It can reduce evaporation and reduce algae growth afaik. It doesn’t have to be bad.

Though … swimming vertical solar panels are also a thing.

That can happen, but I don’t think that’s the point. a) big companies could invest in expensive research like nobody else (aside from state research) b) these hubs are often about having the right companies and universities in one place, which results in employees and graduates spinning out their own innovative start ups, because the region has all the knowhow and manufacturing they need c) most big companies don’t do very risky innovation, instead they buy successful startups to build upon them, but that can still be innovative if they buy them early on and finance further research