It’s crucial to strike a balance between collaboration and safeguarding national interests. Georgia Tech emphasizes safeguarding U.S. federally funded scientific research against undue foreign influence, intellectual property theft, and open university research environment exploitation. 

Additional questions about these policies may be sent to vprdo@gatech.edu. 
 

Key Points


What is Foreign Influence?

The U.S. government expresses concerns about inappropriate influence by foreign entities on institutions and researchers.

  1. Inappropriate Sharing of Information:
    • Researchers must avoid sharing proprietary information, intellectual property, or data from grant applications, unpublished research, or technologies with foreign entities.
    • Confidential information should not be disclosed by researchers serving as peer reviewers for grant applications.
  2. Failure to Disclose Support:
    • Researchers must disclose substantial support from outside activities or foreign organizations in grant applications.
    • Federal agency requirements regarding foreign components or collaborations must be followed in progress reports and ongoing awards.
  3. Risk to Funding Eligibility:
    • Several federal agencies have warned that failure to disclose foreign relationships and activities could jeopardize eligibility for future funding.
  4. OSTP Guidance:
    • The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued guidance on government-wide foreign interest and activity disclosure requirements.
    • This guidance aligns with the National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-33), which is focused on U.S. Government-supported research and national security.
Why Protecting Research Matters
  • There is a growing need to protect federally funded research from foreign interference.
  • Initiatives like NSPM-33, the CHIPS Act, and CMMC address this need.
  • Principal investigators (PIs) play a central role in research and are most at risk of foreign influence.
  • PIs must ensure that research group members understand norms for sharing information outside the group.
Georgia Tech’s Approach
  • Maintain an Open Environment: Foster research discoveries while providing guidelines for protecting research.
  • Compliance Information: Provide researchers with the necessary information for compliance.
  • Risk Minimization: Help minimize risks associated with foreign influence.
     

NSPM-33: What is it, and how does it affect you?

  • The Presidential Memorandum on United States Government-Supported Research and Development National Security Policy, commonly known as National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33), was issued during the last presidential administration. 
  • It aims to protect U.S. Government-supported research and development (R&D) against foreign government interference and misappropriation. 
  • NSPM-33 requires federal research funding agencies to standardize disclosure requirements for federally funded awards and establish research security programs at recipient institutions. 
Key Points about NSPM-33
  1. Purpose: Protect U.S.-funded scientific research from undue foreign influence and intellectual property theft.
  2. Applicability: NSPM-33 applies to research organizations awarded more than $50 million annually in federal research funding.
  3. Goals: Balance national security with openness in the research community while ensuring policies do not fuel xenophobia or prejudice.
  4. Working Group: At Georgia Tech, an NSPM-33 working group focuses on compliance requirements related to disclosure, digital identifiers (such as ORCID iD), foreign travel security, research training, export control, and cybersecurity. The objective is to protect researchers without adding unnecessary bureaucracy.
     

Updated Foreign Travel Requirements

Travel requirements for Georgia Tech employees working on U.S. federally funded sponsored research projects and traveling overseas have recently been updated.

WorkDay Spend Authorization
  • All Georgia Tech employees directly involved in U.S. federally funded research projects and traveling overseas for official business must complete the WorkDay Spend Authorization.
  • During this process, travelers answer a series of questions.
New Question on Required Form
  • The updated form now includes a new question: “Are you traveling to an Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) embargoed country or countries identified in 22 CFR 126.1 (d)(1) & (d)(2) Tables 1 & 2?"
  • If the answer is NO, no further action is required.
  • If the answer is YES, travelers must complete a foreign travel notification to Georgia Tech Research Security (RS) at least 30 days before departure.
RS Safety and Security Briefing
  • Upon completing the RS notification, an RS member will provide a safety and security briefing before departure.
  • No additional correspondence is needed.
Documentation and Retention
  • Information related to travel will be documented and retained for future self-reviews by the Institute and inspections by the U.S. Government.
Reporting Requirements
  • Security Clearance Holders: All Georgia Tech personnel with security clearances must report ALL work and personal foreign travel, regardless of the destination.
  • Non-Clearance Holders: While not mandatory, Georgia Tech personnel using personal funds for travel (e.g., vacation) are encouraged to report foreign travel. This assists in travel safety, emergency evacuation, and State Department assistance programs.
     

Insider Threat Program and Reporting

Georgia Tech has been designated by the U.S. Department of Defense as a Cleared Defense Contractor. This designation allows Georgia Tech to receive and store classified and sensitive information. The purpose is to provide critical services and innovative solutions for various military defense and national security projects.

Learn more about this policy. »

Report a potential insider threat. »