In Ic research could play a very important role in your empire.
There are four different catagories that you can assign percentage points to.(of course you only get 100%)
The four are as follows:
Military(You get the percent you have shown in the research portion of your empire towards Attack Strength and Defense Strength)
Welfare(You get the percent you have shown in the research portion of your empire towards Maximum Population)
Economy(You are get the percent you have shown in the research portion of your empire is added towards your income bonus)
Construction(You get the percent you have shown in the research portion of your empire is adding towards cheaper buildings and units
building faster)
By giving Scientists 
money you are letting them research for you. So put some money in to receive research points.
They way the percent thing works is: Your reaserch Points divided by your total population. If you have a smaller population your research is high, but as your population increses your research goes down.
