So. Factions.

[Pancakes]

Unlike the tons of quite-out-of-context posts (Yes, I am talking about all the research departments that suddenly came into being), I would give a shot to either Cryer, Ageira, Synth foods, Solar Engineering or Planetform, Kishiro, Order, Some Zoner groups. All of these are factions that base themselves around research.

You could also look at the major ship-builders like DSE, Samura/Kishiro, BMM, DHC, GMS/EFL.
These also have an extensive development search meant for the building of their ships, over their normal operations. And as you know (or now going to) developing new ships and weaponry takes an extensive research.

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BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD