Foreign Engagement / Foreign Influence
Background, UC Guidance and Resources about Foreign Engagement
Background about Foreign Engagement in Research
Foreign Engagement, also known as Foreign Influence, involves many areas of the UC San Diego research enterprise, including Conflict of Interest. For the UC San Diego offices involved and their contact information, click this UC San Diego link.
Federal agencies and policymakers have expressed concern that foreign entities may be using the academic research enterprise in an attempt to compromise the United States’ economic competitiveness and national security. Federal funding agencies have sought to clarify longstanding policies and issued new guidance. Federal law enforcement agencies have increased prosecutorial activity in unison with the federal funding agencies, and Congress has signed new legislation and sought information on how the academic research community is responding to this evolving issue.
Since early 2018, Universities have observed heightened awareness and increased activity related to the issue of foreign influence in academia within the federal government and amongst our peer institutions. Federal funding agencies have issued new requirements and guidance, federal law enforcement agencies have increased prosecutorial activity, and Congress has signed new legislation and sought information on how the academic research community is responding to this evolving issue.
UC Guidance and Resources
UC San Diego: https://blink.ucsd.edu/research/international-research.html
UC Office of the President: https://www.ucop.edu/ethics-compliance-audit-services/compliance/research-compliance/foreign-influence.html
Health Sciences Sponsored Project Pre-Award Office: https://medschool.ucsd.edu/vchs/research-services/hssppo/review/Pages/Foreign-Involvement-.aspx
Research Security Videos
Under recent Federal legislation and policy updates, universities and research institutions awarded $50M or more in federal sponsored research funding annually will need to develop Research Security Programs in an effort to mitigate risks to the nation’s research enterprise. The following series of video shorts aim to introduce UC researchers, administrators and others on four key elements of Research Security Program requirements.
- Disclosures: Conflicts of Interest & Conflict of Commitments (4 minutes 40 seconds)
- Talent Recruitment Programs (3 minutes 55 seconds)
- International Collaborations (3 minutes 50 seconds)
- Data Security (3 minutes 30 seconds)