Something in the expansion mod is making a cyclic dependency at the start of the tech tree. Automation Science requires you to construct a lab. Lab research requires 10 Automation Science.

If I disable all mods except Warptorio 3 the problem goes away. If I add in Warptorio 3 Expansion it comes back. So it is something in the expansion mod and not the base mod.

You do not need a lab if you use the Broken Lab, so I assume the bug is the condition on Automation Science Packs. As a workaround, you can unlock the ability to make Automation Science with commands:

/c game.player.force.technologies['automation-science-pack'].researched=true

Which mod version do you playing?

After playing a bit more, it isn't a bug per se but a missing description. Fixing the broken lab unlocks the Automation Science Packs. Adding this to the description of the tech would make it clear that is the way to progress.

Warptorio3_2 2.6.3
Warptorio3_2_expansion 2.0.23

Right at the start of the game, the broken lab needs to be repaired—it says so right above it.
No one ever thought to skip repairing it and try to build regular labs instead.
Well, as it turns out, you figured it out—and that’s what creates some of the game’s puzzles.
Have a nice game!

P.S. Strongly recommended to migrate to Factorio 2.1 version, some bugs were fixed. ^_^