Is possible to set auto-upgrate to designs?SE5

[Suicide Junkie]

The trick would be to make components not have levels.

Instead of ability amounts dependent on the level of the component, just link them directly to the empire's tech level.

Or if you want to get fancy, keep the levels, but use tech level or component level +5, whichever is less. That way you get 5 free and automatic upgrades before you have to retrofit.