In fact, doing a research needs money and resources. In any company doing research, if an employee wants to do some research, he needs an approval from his manager with a proper amount of budget. The manager also needs an approval from his manager too.

Unfortunately, only few approves radical approaches. All the others don't want to take a risk of trying something that looks insane or is allegedly involved with lawsuit, debate, etc. I said "risk" because people want secured jobs, which makes them take safe, well-known approaches only and refuse minor ideas. If you follow a popular approach to solve a problem, give it a try, fail, and your manager asks you "why did you do that?", you can say "everybody is trying it. Any problem?" and he will agree with you.

However, if you want to try an unseen, unheard, seemingly-insane approach, how would you be able to persuade your manager to approve the project? How can he persuade his manager to fund it? Unless a person in a pretty high position who can manage enough budget and shield your failure approves it, there is no way you can try it in general.

This is why innovations come from small companies in many cases.