Papers
Papers are the only way that researchers are able to collaborate from around the world and share their methodologies and data for other researchers to potential replicate and validate. Without validation there will be no research being translated so i believe that papers are in fact an essential process to both the research itself and being able to translate it into the real world. Example: Drug companies cannot let drugs go on to clinical development without going through rigorous studies which involve entire rooms of paper containing all of the data needed.

Money
While money is a large factor in research and translation into practice because it costs such large amounts for every day that research is being undertaken on a given problem with clinical trials being on example with extremely large costs to run. Companies and governments funding these will obviously take into account the cost and benefit ratios to determine the viability of each potential research area for development.
In regards to the comment on coal mining in Australia, I'm an Australian resident and believe that renewable energy is being looked at here however at this time the cost and benefit ratios are obviously still within the range for it to be profitable. Many mine sites in Australia have rehabilitation programs in place that go on for years after mine closure to restore the site to its native state. I believe it will not be long before coal is no longer mined once new research is able to be translated in the renewable energy fields. Once again showing the utter importance for both researchers and translational researchers.