International Collaborations
Overview
International collaboration is an essential part of the University's research, education, and service mission. Collaborations with researchers, universities, companies, government agencies, hospitals, and other organizations around the world advance scientific discovery, innovation, and scholarly exchange.
While most international collaborations proceed without significant additional requirements, some activities may involve research security, export controls, sponsor requirements, research cybersecurity, contractual obligations, disclosure requirements, or other institutional reviews. The Office of Research Security (ORS) helps faculty, staff, and students identify applicable requirements before research activities begin while supporting responsible international engagement.
Request an International Research Review
What Is an International Collaboration?
An international collaboration is any research, scholarly, educational, or other University activity involving one or more researchers, institutions, organizations, governments, or other entities located outside the United States.
International collaborations can take many forms, including:
- Joint research projects
- Collaborative grant proposals
- Co-authored publications
- International data sharing
- Sharing software, technology, or unpublished research information
- Sharing equipment, materials, or biological samples
- International research agreements
- Hosting international researchers or visiting scholars
- Joint use of research facilities or equipment
- Testing, consulting, or other research-related services
- International field research
- Student or researcher exchanges
Not all international collaborations require additional review. However, some may involve research security, export controls, sponsor requirements, research cybersecurity, contractual obligations, disclosure requirements, or other institutional requirements. ORS can help identify applicable requirements before collaborative activities begin.
Contact ORS Before You
- Establish a research collaboration with an international researcher or organization.
- Exchange unpublished research information, software, technology, or research data.
- Enter into an international research agreement or memorandum of understanding.
- Collaborate with an organization located in a U.S. Government Country of Concern.
- Collaborate with a foreign government agency, state-owned enterprise, or military organization.
- Collaborate with an individual or organization that may be subject to U.S. government restrictions or federal research security concerns.
- Conduct federally sponsored research involving international collaborators.
- Receive funding, equipment, software, materials, or other support from an international organization.
- Ship research materials, equipment, or samples internationally.
- Are uncertain whether research security, export control, sponsor, cybersecurity, or disclosure requirements apply.
Common Considerations
International collaborations may involve research security considerations depending
on the nature of the research, the collaborating organization, funding source, and
proposed activities. Before establishing an international collaboration, researchers should consider: Most international collaborations proceed without significant restrictions. ORS assists
researchers in identifying applicable research security requirements early in the
planning process.
International collaborations may involve export control and sanctions requirements
when sharing equipment, materials, software, technology, technical information, biological
materials, or research information with collaborators outside the United States. Researchers should consider: Many international collaborations conducted as fundamental research are not subject
to export licensing. However, export control or sanctions requirements may still apply
depending on the destination, recipient, end user, end use, items, information, or
other circumstances of the proposed collaboration.
Some collaborations involve sponsor, contractual, or institutional requirements for
protecting research information. Researchers should consider: ORS coordinates with other University offices, when appropriate, to identify applicable
information protection requirements.
Federal sponsors may establish additional requirements for international collaborations.
Depending on the project, investigators may need to consider:
- Sponsor disclosure requirements.
- Foreign Components.
- Current and Pending (Other) Support.
- Research security certifications.
- Prior approval requirements.
- Other sponsor-specific requirements.
Requirements vary by sponsor and funding opportunity.
Some international collaborations may require a written agreement depending on the
nature of the collaboration, the participating organizations, the research activities,
the information or materials being shared, sponsor requirements, intellectual property
considerations, or other institutional requirements. The Office of Research Security (ORS) works with the appropriate University offices,
as applicable, to identify research security, export control, research cybersecurity,
sponsor, disclosure, and other compliance considerations associated with proposed
collaborative arrangements. Depending on the proposed activity, research collaborations may involve:
Related Guidance
| Related Guidance | Description |
|---|---|
| International Transfers (Shipments, Hand-Carry & Electronic Transmissions) | Guidance for shipping, mailing, hand-carrying, or electronically transferring research equipment, materials, software, technology, technical information, or research information internationally. |
| Sharing Research Information | Guidance for sharing research information, data, software, technology, technical information, presentations, publications, or other research outputs with collaborators, sponsors, companies, government agencies, or other third parties. |
| Foreign-Sponsored Research | Guidance for proposing, conducting, and managing research funded or otherwise supported by foreign governments, universities, companies, foundations, or other foreign organizations. |
| Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs | Guidance on Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs and Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs.” |
| Foreign Military and Defense Organizations | Guidance for planning, conducting, or supporting research involving foreign military organizations, military universities, defense research institutes, or other organizations affiliated with a foreign military. |
| International Visitors | Guidance for planning, hosting, and supporting international faculty, researchers, students, visiting scholars, and other research visitors. |
| Export Control Classification | Learn how equipment, materials, software, technology, and technical information are classified under U.S. export control regulations. |
| Critical & Emerging Technologies | Learn about federally identified critical and emerging technology areas and how they may relate to research security considerations and international research activities. |
| Countries of Concern | Learn about countries that may require additional review because of federal research security, sponsor, export control, or institutional requirements. |
| Sanctioned & Embargoed Countries | Guidance for understanding U.S. sanctions programs and conducting research activities involving sanctioned destinations. |
| Restricted Entity Screening | Learn how organizations and individuals are screened against U.S. government restricted party and entity lists before certain research activities. |
| Federal Sponsor Risk Matrices | Learn about federal sponsor research security requirements that may affect research collaborations and other international research activities. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need ORS review before collaborating with an international researcher?
Not always. However, ORS should be consulted before establishing an international collaboration that may involve sponsor requirements, export controls, international agreements, research cybersecurity, sharing unpublished research information, international transfers, or other research security considerations.
Does collaborating with an international researcher automatically require export control review?
No. Many international collaborations occur in support of fundamental research and do not require an export license. However, export control requirements may apply depending on the equipment, materials, software, technology, technical information, destination, recipient, end user, end use, or other circumstances of the proposed collaboration.
Can I share unpublished research information with an international collaborator?
It depends. Sharing unpublished research information, software, technology, technical information, research data, or other materials may require review depending on sponsor requirements, export controls, institutional policies, or other applicable requirements. Contact ORS before sharing information if you are uncertain.
Do I need to screen every international collaborator?
Certain collaborations require due diligence or screening to identify restrictions involving sanctioned countries, restricted entities, sponsor requirements, or other institutional considerations. ORS will determine whether additional review or Restricted Entity Screening is necessary based on the proposed collaboration.
Do I need a written agreement before collaborating internationally?
Not every collaboration requires a formal agreement. However, many collaborations involving research activities, data sharing, materials, intellectual property, or funding benefit from an appropriate institutional agreement. ORS can assist in identifying when additional review or coordination with other University offices may be appropriate.
Does collaborating with a researcher in a Country of Concern prohibit the collaboration?
No. International collaborations involving a Country of Concern are not automatically prohibited. However, additional review may be required to identify applicable sponsor requirements, export control regulations, research security considerations, or other institutional requirements before the collaboration begins.
What if my collaborator is from a university, government agency, or company outside the United States?
The type of organization may affect the review process. Collaborations involving universities, companies, hospitals, government agencies, state-owned enterprises, or other organizations may be subject to different sponsor, institutional, or regulatory requirements. ORS can assist in determining what requirements apply.
Can I collaborate with researchers in sanctioned or embargoed countries?
Not necessarily. Collaborations are not automatically prohibited, but additional review is required to determine whether U.S. sanctions, export controls, sponsor requirements, or other institutional requirements apply.
Do I need ORS review before submitting a proposal with an international collaborator?
If the proposal includes an international collaborator, foreign sponsor, international agreement, international subaward, or other international research activity, ORS recommends contacting the Office before proposal submission so that any applicable research security, export control, sponsor, or institutional requirements can be identified early.
Need Assistance?
International collaborations often involve multiple research security, sponsor, export control, information protection, and institutional considerations.
Early consultation with ORS helps researchers identify applicable requirements, coordinate with the appropriate University offices, and support successful international collaborations before research activities begin.