This tech allows the FTZ (R1.51, Salvor) class ship to start scouring the empire for bits of this and that to convert to usable material. They are added to the empire's trade pacts as its own "salvage" entry. Each one adds ½ of the earnings of a FT (use half of the value listed B3.35). An empire can have up to ½ the number of major systems in FTZs (with a minor treated as ½ a major), round fractions down.
This technology is available in Y175 and only after a successful R&D project (D1.0).
Example: An empire with 7 majors and 7 minors could assign 5 FTZ to its ATP, while an empire with only 8 majors (no minors) could assign 4 (and earn a lot less income per FTZ to boot).