The private sector is throwing billions at cancer, billions at Mars, billions at artificial intelligence. A few tens of millions over decades to push to the limits of our brightest and best is a worthwhile investment who knows what they'll discover and anyway they've never failed to deliver in the past.
By the way I'm sure pushing measurement technology below poofteenth of a proton levels must have some commercial potential down the line not to mention the computer analysis, stimulating young genius minds and heaps of other stuff I can't think of.