i think the point of research is that it DOES remain confidential until whatever you are working on yields something that can be brought to market.

obviously whatever they are working on is not ready to be applied in the real world, so why would they advertize what they are doing and alert their competition to what they are doing?

this is pretty basic business 101 stuff mate, and confidential for you means confidential for anyone not associated with the project.
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"Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day." Withnail & I