You are over simplifying and sending confusing signals.
There was/is constant progress that constantly demanded/demands more tech. Without more tech, the progress would have/would stalled.
There was/is constant progress that constantly demanded/demands more tech. Without more tech, the progress would have/would stalled.
To talk about "progress" as if it were some sort of simple, objective thing is misleading.
The real issue isn't about progress. It's about what sort of lives we want to be living.
It's a stupid example, but no tech would be needed. There's loads of problems in the worlds (wars, disease, famine, etc) that can be massively improved (progress) without any change in tech.