Comment by AndyMcConachie

For something a bit more concrete. Take a look at what IARPA is funding and has funded in the past.

http://www.iarpa.gov/index.php/research-programs

This may not go far in answering your questions regarding government funded sock puppets, but it gives an idea of what they're interested in. Basically they're interested in damn near everything, and they're willing to spend large sums of money investigating what works.