Research is done by having science buidlings. These will automatically produce 3 research points (RPs) each turn (starting in the turn you built them). These are constructed the same way other buildings are, the difference being, that you need three stationed infantry units inside the CZ itself per science buidling.

Your generated RPs can be allocated to several research lanes, these being: aircrafts, helicopters, ground units, SAM/radar, production and fuel. For details about the lanes including units see Tech-Sides, for the production lanes see the table below.

Every lane has a representative year (starting at the year your game begins in). This year determines what units you can build or the amount your resource-buildings produce. Available units are marked green, while red ones are yet to be unlocked. If you manage to gather 10 RPs in one lane, you advance one year. The “Actual” number shows the amount of RPs spent in one lane and resets as soon as you reach 10 points.

As all lanes are researched seperatly, you can focus all points in one field or spread them as you wish. However, if you progress in a single lane, while others fall behind, you will suffer research penalties. As the research panel states: “Any research lane which has progressed more than one year over the least progressed lane gets a 10 % RP penalty (rounded up) for each additional year over one year difference.” [sic]

This penalty applies only after the points were put into a lane, meaning, if you start without penalty, you can spent e.g. 100 points in one lane in one turn, yet you would suffer no penalty. Would you however spent 20 points over 5 years, the penalty would increase steadilly.

To allocate points, you put the amount you want to spent above the respective lane and then press the “Apply Points” in the down most left corner. There you also see the amount of RPs you can spent and have allocated at the moment.