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Here's one example of ID stimulating research (but not being an OBJECT of research)

Johannes Kepler's belief in cosmic intelligent design made him want to study the mathematical beauty of the movement of heavenly bodies, for he took this beauty as a sign of an even greater beauty. This interpretation didn't at all get in the way of his research, in part because he wasn't out to prove that his faith was true. He was only looking for ways in which the truths of science might resonate with his faith in a rational, free and good cause of the being of the world.

Of course, it is dangerous to use the same term--ID--for this as theses that are ambiguous in their acceptance of the conclusions of modern science regarding evolution. Call it what you want, Ken Miller believes in it... so it ain't bad ID (you know: good chlorestrol/bad chlorestrol...).

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