If you were to mod/change the tech req's, those changes would be universal (including a.i.).
The easiest way to handle your situation would be to create an event to give a bonus to the research modifier, and then to manually fire it
example would be:
event = {
id = 9900
random = no
persistent = yes
name = "Southern Pride"
desc = "As Friends of the Confederates, we present a gift"
style = 0
action_a = {
name = "Revival"
ai_chance = 1
command = { type = free_ic value = 250 } #+250 offmap IC production
command = { type = free_energy value = 500 } #Free offmap resource production
command = { type = free_metal value = 250 }
command = { type = free_oil value = 500 }
command = { type = free_rare_materials value = 125 }
command = { type = supplies value = 50000 } # Free stuff
command = { type = oilpool value = 50000 }
command = { type = metalpool value = 50000 }
command = { type = energypool value = 50000 }
command = { type = rarematerialspool value = 50000 }
command = { type = manpowerpool value = 50000 }
command = { type = money value = 50000 }
command = { type = research_mod value = 5 } #Quicker Research
command = { type = industrial_modifier which = total value = 25 }
}
action_b = {
name = "Oops hit the wrong button"
ai_chance = 99
command = { }
}
}
any of the numbers in the event are modifiable.... p.s. if you want to use this just copy/paste it into hearts of iron 2/db/events/hoi2
then just fire it manually
also this thread is in the wrong topic, should be under scenarios and modifications