The Rumored Inventions System has been mistakenly placed in the Test Server during the Issue 8 Test Release. You know, the one Positron has stated won't be coming until Issue 9. The Steel Canyon University is "Open to the Public" way ahead of schedule, but won't be open for long.
So far, the only "Inventions" able to be created are Enhancements, and the Salvage required has not been added to the game as far as is currently known.
A couple of the recipes:
Invention: Defense Buff (lvl 10)
Influence: 250
Ancient Artifact x 1
Luck Charm x 1
Runebound Armor x 1
Invention: Damage (lvl 50)
Influence 64000
Demonic Threat Report x 1
Kinetic Weapon x 1
There are MANY more recipes, and, like all things released before their time, subject to change. This is one bug I'm GLAD slipped through the cracks, for however short a time it lasts.