Insights
Foreign Influence: Key Guidance Documents
Why Foreign Influence Matters
As tensions between the U.S. and various foreign governments increase, accusations of academic espionage by foreign-supported researchers at U.S.-based research institutions are on the rise. The NIH, NSF, DOE, and other agencies are increasingly warning institutions of researchers who have not disclosed foreign associations in compliance with grant funding regulations and other laws. The government continues to initiate enforcement actions and we expect this to increase in frequency and scope during the coming months.
As a result, research and academic institutions in the U.S. need to be ever more vigilant to mitigate brand risk, the loss of federal funds, intellectual property assets and exposure to enforcement actions.
Key Guidance Documents
The U.S. Government has issued the following key guidance documents related to its review of foreign influence in research. Please click on the links to learn more:
- JASON Report: Fundamental Research Security (December 2019)
- Senate report: Staff of U.S. Senate Permanent S. Comm. on Investigations, 116th Cong., Threats to the U.S. Research Enterprise: China’s Talent Recruitment Plans (November 18, 2019)
- Office of Science and Technology Policy – Letter to the United States Research Community (September 16, 2019)
- NIH FAQ – Other Support and Foreign Components (August 6, 2019)
- NIH Reminders of NIH Policies on Other Support and on Policies related to Financial Conflicts of Interest and Foreign Components (July 10, 2019)
- NIH Director – Statement on Protecting the Integrity of U.S. Biomedical Research (August 23, 2018)