The Office of Research and Development, National Science and Technology Council, hereby transmits the "116th Year Integrated Research on Sustainable Development Project Application and Explanation of Topics/Research Themes" as follows:

1. This project falls under the NSTC’s specialized research projects, and funded projects will be included in the count of the Council’s specialized research projects. The application deadline and procedures shall be conducted in accordance with the NSTC’s regulations for the 116th Year Specialized Research Projects (large batch) funding.

2. To promote sustainable scientific research, the Office of Research and Development of the NSTC undertakes a quinquennial mid-term planning and formulation of "Integrated Research on Sustainable Development" based on international research and development trends and Taiwan’s own developmental needs, serving as the guiding direction for disciplinary specialized research projects.

3. Emphasizing Taiwan’s local issues and needs, as well as enhancing the participation of the humanities and social sciences, the third mid-term disciplinary plan (2015-2019) completed in 2014 deepened the spirit of codesign, co-production, and co-delivery in the formulation, execution, and outcomes of integrated research; subsequently, the fourth mid-term plan (2020-2024) completed in 2019 stressed local issues and trans-disciplinary research (TDR) practice to realize the vision of Knowledge to Action. Furthermore, the fifth mid-term plan revision (2026-2030) was completed in August 2025, serving as a crucial reference for the Council’s sustainable science project applications.

4. In the current year (115th year, 2026), to strengthen the linkage between sustainable development issues and changes in natural environmental factors, the "116th Year Integrated Research on Sustainable Development Topics/Research Themes and Directions" has been revised and finalized.

5. The project types within the sustainable science discipline primarily focus on "integrated projects"; however, considering the cultivation of new scholars and research capacity, two types of "individual projects" are also accepted. The requirements for each project type are as follows:

(1) Integrated Group Projects:

1. The integrated team must consist of three or more principal/co-principal investigators. After project review, each integrated team must have at least three approved applicants (including principal/co-principal investigators), with the principal investigator’s project approval being mandatory.

2. The topics and research themes upon which the project is based must be clearly stated in the "Integrated Research Project Items and Key Points Explanation (Form CM04)" and the "Research Project Chinese Abstract (Form CM02)"; the "Integrated Research Project Self-Assessment Form (format detailed in Attachment 3)" must be included within CM04.

(2) Individual Projects:

1. Individual projects for new personnel: Applicants must meet the qualifications for new personnel; however, applications under rolling review are not accepted. The basis of topics and research themes must be specified in the "Research Project Chinese Abstract (Form CM02)" of the proposal.

2. Prospective individual projects: Applicants must meet the age criteria for the Council’s outstanding young scholars research projects (under 45 years old; for the 116th year, born on or after January 1st, 1982). The basis of topics and research themes must be specified in the "Research Project Chinese Abstract (Form CM02)" of the proposal.

6. Other important notes: Please refer to the attached documents.

7. Contact person at Yuntech: Ms. Chang-Ju Lee, Office of Research and Development, extension: 2522.