Research

Researching new technologies is an integral part of Accelerando. All factions besides the Descrutinized Zone begin with level 0 in one of five technology groups, Engineering (ENGI), Physics (PHYS), Computing (COMP), Society (SOCI), and Genetics (GENE). The application of research points allows a faction to advance their technology to higher levels, unlocking new forms of infrastructure, governments, weapons, and megaprojects.

Technologies may be traded between factions freely as per those factions agreements. Technologies may also be stolen through espionage. Due to the unknown nature of future technologies, it's impossible to say what new developments might be opened up with advances in technology.

Researching new levels of technologies is done by spending research points. There is no formula available to you, save to apply base research points to a specific field. So a turn order might say: Spend 1 research point on GENE. Spending points does not guarantee an advancement to a higher level, however the more points spent, the higher the chance of the increase. For example, spending 1 point might have a 20% chance of success (at lower levels) but spending two points might have a 50% chance, and 3 points an 80% chance. So in general it would be a smarter use of resources to wait three turns and spend 3 points together than to spend 3 points individually over three turns.