Add in a Space race option for career mode? I'll wait a little extra time if I can race the Kerbal version of Russia to the moon, then Duna. Then to the edge of the solar system!
Even have it that they take their own contacts and they might get the same contract as you and the money goes to the quickest to do it. Gathering their own money and science along the way, they judge want you have and adjusting what they need to do. Surely that AI wouldn't be too hard too make, would it?