Technology victory

The last couple of technology techs do not give you any beneft, but that it exactly the point.
See it as some kind of "...and survive for x turns" mission.
In my opinion - you should play it at least once - to see the end sequence of a tech victory.
I use tech victories when I know I'm going to win but can't be bothered to conquer enough for a cultural victory. I just go on 100% tech and press the end button for about 40 turns.

Yeah, tech victory is really just a race against time. But if you are in a position where you can win said race, you are probably capable of just destroying everyone as well. I do the same as butterfly, when I don't want to take the time I just max out and go for a few turns.

But, to get you there faster, go Neutral for the Neutrality Learning Center, and secure research mining bases. Get all the special research improvements too (nano research, omega research center, etc).

If you want to go for a tech victory make sure you go with Neutral alignment.
That way you can get the NLC's to increase your research ability.
Once you start to go for a tech victory the other civ's will know about it and try to stop you. So the less time you need to gain those last couple techs, the better.

For a Technological Victory, AFAIK, you must have an economy strong enough to keep your cash-thirsty Neutrality Learning Centers running, a military force(either yours or allied) strong enough to hold off jealous rivals, and enough counter-agents to stop espionage attempts against your NLCs.

It is possible to get an accidental protectorate by letting Pirates destroy all your ships, and thus giving them space in which to hover around and destroy anyone who attacks you. These rogue pseudo-mercenary forces have ships powerful enough to hold off attackers until they get out-teched and your on your own again. Normal alliances may not work, since their forces may be weak, or they may have their own agendas(likely and dangerous).

The Dread Lords cannot be made protectorates since they have transports and will sooner conquer you rather than help.

As a side note, I think the Neutrality Learning Centers are a waste of time for a tech victory. They are so expensive to make, and so costly to upkeep, you do just as well if not FASTER, by building invention matrixes/discovery spheres. When I took the time to play a game and save it at a point where I could either make NLCs, or continue with other labs, I found by the time you actually upgraded your planets to NLCs and funded them, you could have already won in less turns with the regular upgrades. At slow or very slow research speed, I can see the need for them, but at anything above that, I wouldn't bother.

I'm completely obseesed with technology, In the real world and in GalCiv2. I'm Technologist and Neutral. I almost always do Tech. Victory. It also would be pretty cool to "ascend" like that!   

Once you get really good at it, a technology victory is the easiest one in the game by far. I can consistently get one between year 0 and year 1 (11-17 game months) depending on the bonus tiles I get on my home planet. Just build all labs, and never stop researching the research line (and I mean NEVER, stay on that one only) - and then explore/trade and use diplomacy to get money. Even the most warlike races will have barely built their first starships at the point where you have won the game. Its just a matter of making enough money to keep your labs running for that time.

FYI, I don't ever go neutral for a pure rush tech victory myself, that would mean researching xeno ethics, for one... and for two, I usually don't upgrade past the advanced labs... it gets too expensive for not enough boost in research. That means no top research building... they cost money to upgrade anyway.

Just a little advice. Take it or leave it. Good luck.

- Wyndstar