International Research Support & Guidance
International scholars and scholarship enrich all aspects of our academic enterprise; and international exchange, collaboration, and travel are key to our staying at the leading edge of knowledge. University of Minnesota Regents Policy directs that “The University has a responsibility to ensure, to the extent possible, respectful and ethical engagement with people, places, and ideas around the globe.”
To support these engagements and our culture of academic freedom and ethics, the University provides a variety of resources relating to research integrity and transparency, disclosure and management of potential conflicts, hosting non-US students and scholars, travel abroad, developing international agreements, and compliance with trade controls.
Read about Russia/Ukraine-Related Financial, Export, and Import Sanctions >
In the News
NIH Decision Matrix for Assessing Potential Foreign Interference for Covered Individuals or Senior/Key Personnel
August 15, 2024
Consistent with NSPM-33 Implementation Guidance, NIH has developed a Decision Matrix as a guide to assist agency personnel in reviewing grant applications and awards for signs of foreign interference and the potential need for mitigation measures. Risk factors include indicators of participating in a Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (FTRP), undisclosed or otherwise problematic foreign funding, and undisclosed affiliations with foreign institutions or entities. Please contact the Export Controls and Research Security Team at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
New Entity List Update Subjects University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and Other Research Organizations to Elevated Restrictions
May 22, 2024
On May 14, the Department of Commerce added 37 new organizations to its restricted Entity List, including USTC, certain units of the Chinese Academy of Science, and other research institutes. Continued collaboration with these institutions may be subject to extensive restrictions and affect future funding opportunities with the Department of Defense and other federal sponsors. Please contact the Export Controls and Research Security team at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
New Federal Restrictions on Certain Foreign-Made Drones Entering Into Force in Late 2025
December 2023
Section 1825 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, enacted in December 2023, provides that federal funds awarded through a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other mechanism may not be used in connection with the procurement or mere operation of a covered unmanned aircraft system or drone produced by a covered foreign entity. Covered foreign entities include any entities on various federal restricted parties lists, as well as the governments of China and Russia.
This purchase and use prohibition will apply to drones from DJI, among certain other non-US manufacturers. The effective date is expected to be no later than December 2025, after detailed regulations are in place, and researchers are encouraged to plan accordingly.
Please reach out to Export Controls at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
Guidelines for Federal Research Agencies Regarding Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs
February 14, 2024
As required by the CHIPS and Science Act, the White House Office for Science and Technology Policy has released a definition of foreign talent recruitment programs (FTRPs). An FTRP is "any program, position, or activity that includes compensation in the form of cash, in-kind compensation, including research funding, promised future compensation, complimentary foreign travel, things of non de minimis value, honorific titles, career advancement opportunities, or other types of remuneration or consideration directly provided by a foreign country at any level (national, provincial, or local) or their designee, or an entity based in, funded by, or affiliated with a foreign country, whether or not directly sponsored by the foreign country, to an individual, whether directly or indirectly stated in the arrangement, contract, or other documentation at issue." Some activities that do not constitute a FTRP include making scholarly presentations and publishing written materials regarding scientific information not otherwise controlled under U.S. law, and participating in international conferences and research projects or other programs that involve open and reciprocal exchanges of scientific information. FTRP participation must be disclosed to federal research sponsors, and participation in malign FTRPs is prohibited. Additional guidance is on RIO's website.
Comer & Lucas Investigate National Science Foundation’s Research Security Efforts
October 31, 2023
The Chairmen of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology are investigating the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) research security measures after the FBI has determined that American colleges and universities are at risk of undisclosed and illegal transfers of information, technology, and intellectual property. NSF has identified threats from foreign talent recruitment programs as one of its current challenges, and reports indicate that these risks are still ongoing. In a letter to the Director of NSF, the Chairmen requested documents and information about its research security efforts and whether it is addressing identified vulnerabilities. Please reach out to the Export Controls office at [email protected] with any questions.