contract research; commissioned research
Research carried out by an institution or individual under a contract with an external client, such as a company or government agency.
The university is conducting contract research for a company.
This project is government-commissioned research.
共同研究 is collaborative research where partners work together, while 委託研究 is research outsourced to a contractor.
受託研究 is the same concept from the contractor's perspective (accepting commissioned research), whereas 委託研究 is from the client's perspective.
Compound of 委託 (entrusting, commissioning) and 研究 (research).