Every major technological change in recent years traces most of its funding back to the state. Even early stage private sector Venture Capitalists come in much, much later, after the big breakthroughs

In my country patents that private universities earn are kept and fund the school, while patents that public universities earn are auctioned off. Highly respected private universities now no longer need to charge admission and do so to maintain selection and a reminder of their value. Public universities lack that luxury even when similarly respected