Strategy 1: Sprint to lab level 3 as fast as possible. At least half your planets only have labs or labs and one or two other structures (i.e. 1 food, 1 factory). Once you have lab 2, you might have to pause to get factory 2 and some basic missile and ship hull techs so you can clear out planets and colonize.

(Other strategies to follow.)

For lab ship component: Xenology (+2 sci)
For lab 2: super conductor > Nanocomputer >>self organizing network
For lab 3: subspace networking > adaptive energy grid >> quantum computing

Note, labs need use 3 people to make a lab fully functional
(staffing requirements for other facilities do no compete -- same colonist can cover multiple jobs)

Level 1 labs: 4-6 research
Level 2 labs: 6-9 research
Level 3 labs: 10-14 research

Factory Effectiveness -- 4 colonist per factory ideal:
Level 1: 9 to12
Level 2: 15-25
Level 3: 20-40

Lab Effectiveness -- see above

Market Effectiveness -- 4 colonist per market ideal:
Level 1: 2-5
Level 2: 3-10
Level 3: 4-15
Note Markets also give morale 8, 12 or 16 depending on market level
Also Note, above morale is 5+ more for Phidi race

Farm Effectiveness -- 1 colonist per farm, but low figure is for low fertility, and high figure for high fertility:
Level 1: 4 (for both low and high fertility)
Level 2: 6 or 7
Level 3: 8 ot 11

Mine Effectiveness -- 1 colonist per mine.

Factory level 2: industrial automation > Duranium construction >> nanoscale fabrication

Artificial Organisms

market theory
containment field

Guidance system > Advanced metallurgy >> magazine bay

At the moment this guide is more of a rough outline of what I think would be helpful, with a few key research facts I know off the top of my head because they have been so useful. If someone wants to make this more thorough, please feel free to contribute, or just make it your own completely.

For me, the difference between winning and losing has been detemined by how solid my research plan was. With the right research I think almost any starting position can lead to victory.