This is probably not as easy as 'just add labs' because of pack speed, lab research, and other reasons, but would it be possible to just have labs always set up to assume they were consuming infinite science (60 sec/pack) to get the rate from that?

I stayed away from labs because the rate changes based on what you're researching. I'll think about either doing as you suggest, or treating the current research target like a recipe somehow.

But thanks for the idea! At present I'm working on getting the various kinds of generators in there. (I've been playing Kras2 a bit, which has several interesting generators).

or treating the current research target like a recipe somehow.

Isn't that how the smelters work? because they have to have something in them to show the speed.