Production: start Technology Research (Science)

Simple answer: Standalone, Research is useless. But for your own Production, it's strategic.

Equipment is by far the highest cost. Especially for starters with liquidity challenges, make sure to use your investment in optimal way (equipment quant./qual.) !
Always use the "Semiconductors" booster
Equipment quality: if you buy equipment of various qualities, your resulting "installed equipment" will have the weighted average of quality.

Set up a Lab for T-7 research (see specs below). Consider adding 2-3 of these labs depending on your needs.
You may set up 1-2 Labs for T-3 in Sweden - only to make use of your existing stock of Laboratory equipment.
Once needed, set up a Lab for T-12 research.
To optimize equipment cost, consider mixing one lower and one higher quality of equipments to achieve your targeted quality. Chose the ones with lowest price per quality. (example below)
Usually, rather buy higher quality equipment if it's cheaper. It leaves you the option to further expand the lab for higher levels. It seems rather difficult to hit Top Manager qualification restrictions in research.
Consider building your Labs in locations with good labor cost/qualification ratios. At the time of writing e.g.: Port Elizabeth (South Africa). These 2 may already charge high recruiting costs: Yamoussoukro (Ivory Coast), Andijan (Uzbekistan).
You may decide to gradually equip your labs (especially T-12). Have an eye on your targeted equipment quality for your lab.

Start researching a technology in your lowest tech lab: T-4.
Once you start research of Tech level 5, use your T-7 Lab.
Once you invented Tech level 7, shift the research activities over to your T-12 Lab.

Overview: Lab Equipment required per Technology level you want to research

Notes:

Example: Market prices of lab equipment - incl. cost per quality:

In this case, you may want to use your eq4.5 equipment to mix down the eq27 for you T-12 lab:

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