[quote=@SpookySquid]
Patenting is a thing. If you invent an automatic telephone cleaner, nobody else will be able to whip one up and call it their own invention. You will receive a bit of cash for the invention and kick back from whenever it is sold, if you can successfully patent it.
[/quote]

Would there be a period between when you 'invent' a new technology and when it can be applied for the first time? For instance, if you create a steam engine for the first time then your country would have to go through a period of transition as all the factories are upgraded to having steam engines running their production lines. During this time you wouldn't be able to benefit from the increased productivity of your factories, since the production lines wouldn't gain the benefit of the new system until the upgrade is completed.

You could even impose a penalty to the production for the upgrade period, as factories would have to stop production while upgrading, which would cause a short-term deficit to your country's productive output in exchange for a long-term boost once the upgrade has been finished.