The "secret" seems to be using Masters to research as soon as possible. I don't know if you can get the little guys to Master at level 2, but keep dragging a couple to the table until the blue line is all the way to the end and your villger is a Master (works on science and farming too). Master scientists seem to jump the tech points high. Another thing is wait for an "incident" to happen--some give tech. points. Munch