I believe it makes sense in these straitened times to submit scientifically overlapping grant applications to multiple agencies, in the hope that one will receive funding (Nature 493, 577, 2013).

It would, of course, be unethical to accept duplicate budgets for the same salary or equipment. But overlapping funding is often used to expand and upgrade laboratory resources, particularly if one grant provides insufficient support to follow up the scientific leads and questions that always pop up along the way.

A simpler, more efficient system could be achieved with more overlap, not less. One solution might be a centralized proposal repository (N. Y. Harel Nature 452, 409, 2008), into which individual researchers could submit one proposal for review by multiple agencies. Several agencies might then share the costs of (and credit for) the same project.

Instead of sleuthing to identify other agencies that received similar proposals, funders could use text-similarity software to find and collaboratively fund the proposals that are most relevant to their missions. A system of overlapping funding would also encourage more transparency.