Interesting idea... what about something different than ubi? What if rather than being "generous", or only being given to 0.1%, it was given to anyone with a phd, but it was lower, and they need to clock in for 8 hrs to get it? As in physically leave their home and enter a place with other researchers for 8 hrs (idea factory basically).
This might ensure that only those who are passionate would take the opportunity, and that they could still do whatever they wanted once they did.
Obviously if you wanted to run an expensive experiment it would cost money and you'd need to fight for funding, but no more fighting for spots or fighting for your life or needing to justify everything to everyone else.