If the nations (per story line) are all persuing the race for technology, I figured the research stations should offer scientific missions like :-

Data Gathering: from unusual places.. this could lend itself to the exploration theme that has been expressed it the past in that it could shape the exploration of the V-O universe.

"We have just picked up a strange reading from a sensor at the (worm hole jump gate / unusual feature) in sector X-X, take this scanner and check it out.. you'll need to scan the area for 30 secs so we can get more precise data"

The scanner could mod the radar to show up an area in a different colour or something, then you could scan around a marker.

Sample Collecting: this could just be collected from an NPC bot that jettisons it when it sees you to scanning for and mining a widget (if later implimented).

"We need a fresh (XYZ) Sample to continue our reaserch, rendezvous with *botname in sector X-X to collect the sample."

or

"We need a fresh (XYZ) Sample to continue our reaserch, take this scanner (Small port) and mine attachment (large port) and get one back here."

I like it. It would use the same mechanics as the prospecting missions. And it's not all about fighting - although you'd have to defend your cargo that could be worth a bunch on the black market.

I'm sure we'll see more diverse missions and storylines when the devs have time to actually design them.. or when they have the funding to hire designers. Makes me want to go preorder today. =)