As we enter the 21st century, we carry with us a legacy of successful technological advancement. Our scientists and engineers have paved the way for a future filled with all the conveniences one could ask for. Highways are still plagued by gridlock. Cell phones still sound like cell phones. Light bulbs still burn out at the least appropriate moments.
Computers still crash.
But more importantly, diseases still kill. Critical components still wear out. There are many factors that hinder technological progress, but somehow it always seems to boil down to money. There are many innovative projects that never get off the drawing board simply because the company does not have the resources to develop them. The ATP program is a prime source of funding that makes that kind of thing much more practical.