About the same time as UFO: Enemy Unknown there was another strategy game with space aliens and research: Alien Legacy. Its research had a unique feature, which I don't remember anywhere else. Every time a new research item appeared, your advisor gave you a pitch about how useful this is going to be. Some of them proved immediate flops, although useful in the long run.
Here are two (long) examples:
Spoiler:
Proposal:
Dr. McGuffey has some ideas about what he calls the 'absolute number theory.' It may give us a new way to conceptualize the structure of the universe and, indeed, could very well revolutionize our understanding of mathematical theory.
After the research started:
Dr. McGuffey is running his new mathematical hypothesis through our supercomputers as they become available. His 'absolute number theory' may revolutionize mathematics.
Immediately after it finished:
We are now able to posit McGuffey's Theorem. Unfortunately, the mathematic proof did not live up to our expectations in revolutionizing the structure of basic mathematics. Oh, well... However, the theorem is quite elegant.
Later:
McGuffey's Theorem was expected to revolutionize basic mathematical thinking. The final proof did not live up to expectations. In lay terms, the theorem proves that the process of getting somewhere is more interesting than being there.
Much later the theorem helped to design a new shuttle engine.
Proposal:
The process we are developing restructures grain protein into meat protein. In effect, we are turning grass into beef.
After the research started:
Makes tasty steaks from mushrooms
Immediately after it finished:
The Shiitake Meat Synthesizer transforms grain protein into meat protein. Unfortunately, the process will work only with shiitake mushrooms, which are difficult to raise here. However, the shiitake steaks taste wonderful. Sorry to have wasted our time and resources, Captain.
Later:
The Shiitake Meat Synthesizer converts grain protein into meat protein. The process requires shiitake mushrooms, and the energy required to convert the protein is 20 times as great as that which is derived from the meat. Aside from being of historical curiosity, the process has no other redeeming value.
Much later the synthesizer was used to process organic compounds found in Kuiper belt.
What are the ways to create something similar in OpenXcom? Catchy names for research goals? Multi-stage research that outlines the follow-up projects?
