We can spend research and intelligence points on projects. A third nice thing would be economy points, produced by banks or traders.
There could be a kind of counter-economy-project (like the counter-intelligence), trying to disturb other econmies. Perhaps after success of own projects you get ressources or a nice boost of research, or you force a certain ai to make a better treaty, so the trade values raises and whatever. Perhaps some projects could improve the relations to other peoples or force another race to make peace with you because of the economical situation.
To buy out another empire planet by planet, ship by ship would be another idea, but not a good one if you ask me. But I would mod it away, so please feel free to do it
Sorry if someone wrote similar ideas. Please don't expect someone to read that 100! pages
