As long as your population is small, tech points will be very slow in coming. Once I have farming, I gradually increase my population to around a dozen or so, as the food supply permits. More villagers, more research points. You can also purchase level 2 of Science, since that boosts the tech point production of every scientist.

I have written a strategy guide that offers some helpful pointers. The one that's here is spoiler-free, but it does offer hints on the puzzles. You can stop reading before you get that far if you don't want any puzzle help!