Government Grants
A government grant is a monetary gift given by a government to one of its citizen’s. Unlike a loan a government monetary grant is not given with the expectation of any monetary payments and or interest (a.k.a. it typically does NOT have to be repaid). Governments rarely expect monies granted to organizations and individuals be returned. In the unlikely case that there is a demand that monies be returned it is usually if the recipient does not fulfill the undertaking for which the grant was awarded or the recipient was discovered to have made a fraudulent claim.
Some governments such as the United States give grants to inventors whose inventions are non-controversial, benefit the environment, reduce energy and which make them look good.
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/hotlist/procure.html
Inventions and Innovation Program (IIP) - DOE - Funding