The Taiwan Research Institute has steadily expanded both its research budget and research staff ever since its founding in 1994. Its research is funded primarily from projects commissioned by both state-run and private enterprises, as well as by various government agencies. The majority of its research staff has at least a master's degree from either prestigious foreign or local universities. The Taiwan Research Institute is truly one of the full-fledged multidisciplinary research institutes in this country.

The Taiwan Research Institute is organized as follows: the Board of Directors, the President's Office, Research Division I through IV, Administration Department, and Library.

H. E. Dr. Teng-hui Lee, the former President of the Republic of China, is currently serving as Honorary Chairman of the Taiwan Research Institute.

The President's Office handles all planning that pertain to the overall functioning of the Institute. Its other duties include coordination and evaluation of research projects, press and public relations, handling of international affairs, and provision of staff services to the president and chairman.

Concentrates on issues related to the macro economics, industrial development, resource allocation, environmental pollution, and public finance and accounting. These topics are essential to the operations of business concerns. This Division aims to make feasible policy recommendations through empirical analysis that combines theory and practice. Its ultimate goal is to become the most important think tank for private enterprises in Taiwan.

Among the completed studies are: Sustainable Industrial Development ; Plans for Taiwan's Business Development; Guide to Taiwan's Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises; Water Resource Use and Planning in Taiwan; Taiwan's Energy Policy; On Taiwan's Environmental Protection; Banking Laws and Regulations; Movements of Taiwan's Interest and Foreign Exchange Rates; The Overall Planning for Taiwan's Transportation System; On Foreign Aids, and so forth. This Division also makes public on a regular basis its forecasts on a number of macroeconomic variables.

Places its emphasis on topics of policy forming and investment promotion in science and technology; to build up the capabilities for the future "knowledge-based economy". This Division pays particular attention to the importance of organizing researches in advanced science and technology. Research topics such as: Strategies for National Hi-Tech Development; The Development of Oceanic Resources; Natural Resources and National Energy Management; Studies on Innovation Scheme; Transportation and Industrial Development; Humanities and Science; etc., are all highly concerned. The Division has already completed its study on Issues of The South China Sea; Planning for Transportation from Overseas Petroleum Markets; and The Flight Safety and Air Traffic Control Issues Across The Straits, etc.

In addition to its routine projects, this Division publishes a magazine entitled "Yuan" (literally, the Origin), which is dedicated to increasing community awareness of the land on which we live. This Division also issues a series of books on local community development. In the future, this Division plans to study issues relating to Information Technology, Bio-technology, and oceanic「Gas hydrate」.

Focuses its studies on government, public policy, as well as social and cultural issues; Topics related to Business and Trade Relations across the Straits; Cultural Issues; Legal Issues; Political Issues; and Social Issues are all within the scope of this Division's research. This Division also publishes regularly a number of professional journals and magazines. Among them are The Finance and Investment Monthly; The Industry and Investment Bimonthly; The Journal of Cross-Strait Perspectives; The Forum for the Industrial Elite Bimonthly, and The Exchange of Industrial Technology Monthly. There are two committees under this Division: The Advisory Committee for Finance and Investment, and The Advisory Committee for Industry and Investment across the Straits. Both of these committees hold seminars on an irregular basis on major topics of concern to the public that may arise from time to time. Moreover, as part of its research efforts, this Division has also frequently invited scholars and experts from mainland China to visit Taiwan, and sent research staff to the mainland as well as Japan to gather research data.

Is responsible for studies on strategic study and security issues. Through seminars, conferences, and forums on regional security issues, through a quarterly publication ( Journal of Strategic and International Studies) on topics concerning strategic and international relations, and through a website, this Division hopes to contribute to consensus building with regard to Taiwan's defense needs by public dissemination of foreign research results on international political developments. This Division has already held seminars and conferences on subjects such as Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA); Confidence Building Measures (CBMs); The Impact of the War in Kosovo; Constructing the System of Asia-Pacific Economic Security; An Appraisal of Military Powers Across the Straits; Mainland China's Information Warfare; Preventive Diplomacy and Regional Security; and The Twelve Years of Lee's Presidency and the Accomplishments of Taiwan. It is worth mentioning that this Division's research results on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) has become a major reference material for the national government when the government was developing the Military CBMs across the Straits. In the future, this Division no doubt will play an even more important role in Taiwan's strategic and international studies.

The Administration Department handles personnel, accounting, logistic, and general affairs of the Institute, including (the service of the Information). The over-riding function of this department is to provide an environment that is conducive to research activities.

The Library houses all research materials, handles the procurement of books, and performs all data-processing tasks, helping to increase the efficiency and quality of the institute's research activities.