Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-213.112.152.175-20130901100601/@comment-3208905-20130901201838

The tech and design specialists are just requirements for opening the hardware and R&D lab specifically. Having more than one reduces the maintenance costs of the apropriate lab.

As long as the Tech/Design is 700+, the actual value doesn't matter. It's just a requirement for the specialization training. A 700 Design specials is just as good as a 1200 for the purposes of opening and reducing maintence on the lab.