It wouldn't be that weird a thought for me that, preferably a group of, nation states cough up some serious money and give this a real start, beginning, and end in the form of a stable release. This already happens with major science and space projects, with budgets of billions. A browser is not simply a bunch'a software, having a modular open browser is a major deal and benefit to society at this point. Perhaps arguably more valuable than pumping yet more energy in a particle accelerator and other of mankind's pet projects in search for the unknown unknowns and deal with more pressing known knowns first.

> preferably a group of, nation states cough up some serious money and give this a real start, beginning, and end in the form of a stable release

It doesn't take serious money. It takes a constant stream of "sub-serious" money, stable for a long time.

A large city could pay for that project. It doesn't take a group of nations, what it takes is non-standard politics.

I love this idea!