When research bar gets full, your group gets a new R&D chip. If research stops right before it gets full, your group has to upgrade R&D machine to get higher max research level.

the bar is full but i have zero chips. how do i get a chip?

you need to level up the r&d machine more to get more points

It is?? my level is full but I have zero chips. I am very confused.

ok, so how do I go about improving it? I have 0 chips

They wrote that you need to upgrade your R&D (just like to improve group skills, or lucky wheel) in order to get more chips. Ask your leader to do that. It's very easy to understand.
I think you should leave this job to someone else :)

Ah ok so a group leader has to do it. Understood. thank you

Most of the features of the game have "?" above or simple notes and description for you to understand how it works or what should be done .. A little reading will give a lot of information so be curious around your screen and explore .. Unless the said feature is bugged or translated so wrong ..

About the topic, as what other peoples said above .. Upgrade your Group's R&D Machine the way you guys upgrading the Group Rank, Wheel and Skills .. It is the *on in the Group Interface below the details of the group .. If im not wrong, Leaders and Seniors are able to see this *on so ask them to upgrade the said feature ..