You gain the ability to build technology from fictional worlds. Worlds where the technology requires a specific energy source or materials will give you knowledge on how to make that material using what you have, or produce that energy with specially designed equipment. You fully understand the mechanics behind the technology and can iterate or build upon it as you feel like.
Technology trees are split into up to ten tiers depending on how much depth they offer. World with multiple distinct technology trees need to be purchased individually (Endless Space would have a tree for each faction for example).
Each week (or 168 earth hours), you gain one charge which can be used to either purchase a new random technology tree at first tier or raise the tier of an existing one. You can only have on tree active at once, you can choose which tree you will have active for the next day but cannot change during the day, the change happens at midnight.