During the era of Japanese rule, Hsinchu was found to be rich in petroleum and natural gas, and a natural gas research institute was founded here. In 1946 the research institute was taken over by the China Petroleum Corporation, and its name changed to the China Petroleum Hsinchu Research Institute. In 1954 it was restructured as the Ministry of Economic Affairs Joint Industrial Research Institute.
日據時期，因為新竹盛產石油天然氣，在此設立天然瓦斯研究所，台灣光復後，一九四六年研究所由中國石油公司接收，改為中油新竹研究所，五四年改組為經濟部聯合工業研究所。