Article 1
These Directions were promulgated to enhance the administration of commissioned research programs of subordinate agencies of the Executive Yuan (hereinafter referred to as “agencies”).

Article 2
The commissioned research programs noted in these Directions shall refer to those research programs that are commissioned to colleges and universities, research institutions, organizations or individuals using official budgets or government funds designated for research purposes with regard to the agency’s functions.
Commissioned cooperative research mentioned in the third subsection of Article 3 of the Implementation Directions for Research and Development in Subordinate Agencies of the Executive Yuan shall be regulated by these Directions.

Article 3
Commissioned research programs shall be classified as follows:
(1) Administration and policy research: Conducted by agencies with regard to their respective functions. The research results shall serve to improve the functions of government agencies or as references in policy-making.
(2) Science and technical research: Conducted by agencies to advance national science and technology.
The Research, Development and Evaluation Commission of the Executive Yuan shall be the central competent authority responsible for administration and policy research mentioned in the first subsection of the preceding paragraph. The National Science Council of the Executive Yuan (hereinafter referred to as “NSC”) shall be the central competent authority responsible for science and technical research mentioned in the second subsection.

Article 4
In order to plan and manage commissioned research programs of their subordinate agencies(units), first-level agencies of the Executive Yuan shall promulgate operation directions for commissioned research programs with regard to their functions and in accordance with these Directions and relevant laws. These promulgated operation directions for commissioned research programs shall be detailed and published on the agencies’ respective websites.

Article 5
Agencies shall conduct pre-budget reviews of policy needs, program purposes, implementation urgency and feasibility, expected outcomes, budget sources, budget planning rationality, and repeated research before planning the annual budget estimates for commissioned research programs. Agencies shall submit review reports to the agency head for ratification.

Article 6
The NSC shall develop the Government Research Bulletin (GRB) to allow agencies to upload research information and search related commissioned research programs.

Article 7
The commissioned research topics selected shall comply with agencies’ administration plans and development needs.
Agencies shall refer to the Government Research Bulletin and select commissioned research topics, commissioned organizations and researchers with prudence. When selecting a commissioned organization, agencies shall not only consider the capabilities of the primary researcher in charge of the research program but also take into consideration whether or not the commissioned party is undertaking more than two government commissioned research programs during the same period.   
The “same period” mentioned in the preceding paragraph refers to research programs whose research periods overlap for more than four months. 

Article 8
Agencies shall enter the full text of commissioned research topics and the key points of respective research projects into the Government Research Bulletin and publish this information on agencies’ respective websites, unless otherwise stipulated by Article 18 of the Freedom of Government Information Act. Any additions or amendments to these reports shall be updated in a timely manner.  

Article 9
An overseas visit proposal shall be submitted separately for commissioned research programs which require overseas travel. The overseas visit proposal shall be reviewed together with the commissioned research proposal, and the visit report shall be included as an appendix of the research report or filed with the agency commissioning the research for future reference.

Article 10
Agencies shall submit two copies and an electronic file of the commissioned research report to the National Central Library and the NSC for deposit and public access within four months of the commissioned research program’s conclusion, unless otherwise stipulated by Article 18 of the Freedom of Government Information Act.

Article 11
The central competent authority may jointly conduct written inspections or on-site inspection visits on the administration of commissioned research programs jointly with relevant agencies

Article 12
Monetary compensation may not be given to personnel of the agency assigning the commissioned research work.