The main goal is to build a fully functioning colony on all new planets. As such you will need Resources.
There are seven resources in the game.
Food 
: Obtained from Indoor Farms, Eco farms, Experimental farms, and Community Houses. Every day, adult citizens eat 1 food, and children eat 1/2 food. If you run out of food, your citizens will gradually lose happiness, therefore working slower.
Wood 
: Obtained from cutting trees in the overworld or tree plantations. Used to build most buildings.
Stone 
: Obtained from mining rocks in the overworld or rocks from the Rock Teleporter. Used to build many Production buildings. Also used to create Machine Parts and Refined Metals.
Knowledge 
: Obtained from Lab buildings, Exploration Centers, Workshops, Observatory, etc. That is used to research buildings and upgrades as one-time cost.
Machine Parts 
: Obtained from Machine Parts Factories and uses stone, Wood for the Workshop. Used to build machines and advanced buildings.
Refined Metals 
: Obtained from Refined Metals Factory buildings and use stone. Used to build advanced buildings and create computer chips.
Computer Chips 
: Obtained from Computer Chips Factories and use refined metals. Used to build several late-game buildings.
The Machine can also generate random amounts of any resource if you have it. A Community House can generate either Food, Wood, or Stone depending on the player's choice.