This is one of the points the author makes in the book "Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder". He points out that one of the big examples of something where theory came first, then application came afterwards is the atomic bomb.

In a lot of other areas of practical invention, application comes first, then people come in afterwards with a theory. And frequently, the theorists take credit for the invention as if the theory had come first. He had some examples of this happening.