diff --git a/src/hci/research.cpp b/src/hci/research.cpp
index 783c2266e42..819b4f8cfde 100644
--- a/src/hci/research.cpp
+++ b/src/hci/research.cpp
@@ -602,6 +602,20 @@ class ResearchOptionButton: public StatsFormButton
 		});
 	}
 
+	std::string getTip() override
+	{
+		WzString costString = WzString::fromUtf8(astringf(_("Cost: %u"), getCost()));
+		auto stats = getStats();
+		WzString tipString = (stats == nullptr) ? "" : getLocalizedStatsName(stats);
+		if (!stats->category.isEmpty())
+		{
+			tipString.append(astringf("\n%s %d/%d", stats->category.toUtf8().c_str(), stats->categoryProgress, stats->categoryMax).c_str());
+		}
+		tipString.append("\n");
+		tipString.append(costString);
+		return tipString.toUtf8();
+	}
+
 	std::shared_ptr<ResearchController> controller;
 	size_t researchOptionIndex;
 	AllyResearchsIcons allyResearchIcons;
diff --git a/src/research.cpp b/src/research.cpp
index f6579fae817..a96a310e15d 100644
--- a/src/research.cpp
+++ b/src/research.cpp
@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@ bool loadResearch(WzConfig &ini)
 		RESEARCH research;
 		research.index = inc;
 		research.name = ini.string("name");
+		research.category = ini.string("category");
 		research.id = list[inc];
 
 		//check the name hasn't been used already
@@ -587,6 +588,36 @@ bool loadResearch(WzConfig &ini)
 		return false;
 	}
 
+	// populate research category info
+	std::unordered_map<WzString, std::vector<size_t>> resCategories = {};
+	for (size_t inc = 0; inc < asResearch.size(); inc++)
+	{
+		auto cat = asResearch[inc].category;
+		if (cat.isEmpty())
+		{
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (resCategories.count(cat))
+		{
+			resCategories.at(cat).push_back(inc);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			resCategories.insert({cat, std::vector<size_t>{inc}});
+		}
+
+	}
+	for (const auto& cat : resCategories)
+	{
+		uint16_t prog = 1;
+		for (const auto& inc : cat.second)
+		{
+			asResearch[inc].categoryProgress = prog;
+			asResearch[inc].categoryMax = cat.second.size();
+			prog++;
+		}
+	}
+
 	// If the first research json file does not explicitly set calculationMode, default to compat
 	if (!researchUpgradeCalcMode.has_value())
 	{
diff --git a/src/researchdef.h b/src/researchdef.h
index 02670bc35c7..7e37757a5bc 100644
--- a/src/researchdef.h
+++ b/src/researchdef.h
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ struct RESEARCH : public BASE_STATS
 	BASE_STATS      *psStat;   /* A stat used to define which graphic is drawn instead of the two fields below */
 	iIMDBaseShape		*pIMD;		/* the IMD to draw for this research topic */
 	iIMDBaseShape		*pIMD2;		/* the 2nd IMD for base plates/turrets*/
+	WzString category;			/* Category name as in json (for progression numbering) */
+	uint16_t categoryProgress; /* Category this/max (gets filled on load) */
+	uint16_t categoryMax; /* Category progress/this (gets filled on load) */
 	int index;		///< Unique index for this research, set incrementally
 
 	RESEARCH() : pViewData(nullptr), iconID(0), psStat(nullptr), pIMD(nullptr), pIMD2(nullptr) {}