2016 ANNUAL REVIEW Ministry of Science and Technology

2. Based on the Operating Guidelines for Subsidies for the Holding of Cross-straits Academic and Sci-tech Conferences , MOST encouraged and supported the holding of cross-Strait S&T and academic conferences by academic or S&T organizations and universities. Support was provided for 47 conferences in 2016. 3. Based on the Guidelines for Subsidies for the Invitation of S&T Personnel from the Mainland China Area, Hong Kong, and Macao to Taiwan for Short-term Visits , MOST provided subsidies to academic and research organizations for invitation to Taiwan of individuals from the Mainland China Area, Hong Kong, and Macao who possess special skills and can benefit the host organization's research or S&T development; funding was provided for 83 such visits in 2016, which were chiefly for the purpose of public lectures and participation in discussions. 4. In 2016, after review of cases in which applications were made to let academic and S&T personnel from the Mainland China Area come to Taiwan for long- or short-term academic or S&T activities, MOST approved 547 such applications. 5. In order to promote positive cross-Strait academic interchange, MOST continued to fund its share of bilaterally-funded joint research projects with China on specific issues concerning public welfare. This year's joint topics consisted of "From near- earth objects to the evolution of galaxies" and "Applications of disaster prevention technology". Furthermore, MOST supported the 6 th "Cross-Strait Science Communication Forum," which was held October 25-26, 2016 in Chengdu, China. Apart from continuing to promote research cooperation on common issues with the National Natural Science Foundation of China, MOST has been holding regularly scheduled working conferences with the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, and is also conducting interchange with relevant academic units in Mainland China, promoting cross-Strait S&T forums, and continuing to sponsor reciprocal high- level visits of high-level S&T officials as part of efforts to establish stable interchange mechanisms. S&T interchange with China and permit review statistics, 2012-2016 Item 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Recruited S&T personnel from China (person times) 110 109 121 108 85 Cross-strait academic conferences 67 59 64 73 47 S&T personnel from the Mainland China Area, Hong Kong, and Macao invited to Taiwan (person times) 48 82 89 67 83 Professional S&T activity permits reviewed (person times) 1,613 2,089 464 433 547 A. Online Services MOST revised its online application systems for domestic experts and scientists wishing to attend international conferences and teams wishing to attend conferences of international academic organizations in 2016 in order to provide applicants online application, expense reimbursement, report submission, and agency compilation, and online review by reviewers functions, while improving compatibility with leading browser versions. Improving the Research and Development Environment Ⅶ With regard to paperless online application for academic research grants and funding, after many years of paperless online submission for review, the system has effectively reduced paper and postage costs, shortened processing time, and boosted administrative efficiency. In order to seek further improvement, MOST began use of paperless academic review fee receipts on a trial basis in 2013, and paperless receipts were used to request funding reimbursements approximately 107,400 times during 2016, and effectiveness has been excellent. Support for Academic Research Ministry of Science and Technology 79