Foreign Military and Defense Organizations
Overview
Research activities involving foreign military and defense organizations may involve additional research security, export control, sponsor, research information protection, cybersecurity, disclosure, or other institutional requirements.
Foreign defense organizations include military organizations, ministries of defense, defense agencies, defense innovation organizations, military academies, government laboratories supporting defense activities, and other organizations whose activities support military or national defense objectives.
While many interactions with foreign government organizations proceed without restriction, certain activities involving foreign military or defense organizations may raise additional export control or research security considerations. Activities involving defense articles, technical data, military training, or certain forms of technical assistance may constitute a Defense Service under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or require U.S. government authorization.
The Office of Research Security (ORS) assists faculty, staff, and students in identifying research security-related requirements before engaging in these activities.
REQUEST AN EXPORT CONTROL REVIEW
Contact ORS Before You
- Collaborate with a foreign defense organization.
- Conduct research with a foreign military organization, defense agency, or government laboratory supporting defense activities.
- Receive research funding or other support from a foreign defense organization.
- Provide technical advice, consulting, instruction, demonstrations, or training to personnel affiliated with a foreign defense organization.
- Share technical information or demonstrate research equipment, software, technology, or research capabilities to a foreign military or defense organization.
- Enter into a research agreement or other arrangement with a foreign defense organization.
- Host personnel affiliated with a foreign defense organization in University research facilities.
- Are uncertain whether research security, export control, sponsor, or other institutional requirements apply to your proposed activity.
Key Considerations
Certain activities involving foreign defense organizations may constitute a Defense Service under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), even when no equipment is exported.
Depending on the circumstances, activities involving defense articles or technical data, including certain technical assistance, instruction, demonstrations, testing, training, or other support, may require prior authorization from the U.S. government.
Whether an activity constitutes a Defense Service depends on the specific facts and circumstances. Researchers should consult ORS before engaging in activities involving foreign defense organizations.
Activities involving foreign defense organizations may require additional research security review depending on the participating organization, sponsor, proposed research activity, and applicable federal or institutional requirements.
Researchers should consider:
- The nature of the participating organization.
- Whether the organization supports military or national defense activities.
- Whether federal sponsor research security requirements apply.
- Whether additional institutional review or due diligence is appropriate.
- Whether Restricted Entity Screening or Countries of Concern considerations apply.
Activities involving foreign defense organizations frequently involve export control considerations.
Researchers should consider:
- Whether equipment, software, technology, technical information, or research materials are export controlled.
- Whether technical information or software will be shared with foreign persons.
- Whether an export license or other U.S. Government authorization is required.
- Whether international shipments, travel, or electronic transfers are involved.
Some activities involving foreign military or defense organizations require review before they begin, even when no physical export occurs.
Research funded or otherwise supported by a foreign defense organization may involve sponsor-specific disclosure, certification, reporting, or contractual requirements.
Researchers should consult ORS before proposal submission or accepting funding to identify applicable research security-related requirements and coordinate with the appropriate University offices, as needed.
Activities involving foreign defense organizations often involve institutional agreements.
Depending on the proposed activity, researchers may require:
- Sponsored Research Agreements
- Collaboration Agreements
- Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)
- Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
- Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)
- Data Use Agreements (DUAs)
ORS works with the appropriate University offices to identify research security-related considerations associated with proposed collaborative arrangements.
Related Guidance
| Related Guidance | Description |
|---|---|
| International Collaborations | Guidance for planning, establishing, conducting, and managing research collaborations with international researchers, institutions, companies, and organizations. |
| Foreign-Sponsored Research | Guidance for proposing, conducting, and managing research funded or otherwise supported by foreign governments, universities, companies, foundations, or other foreign organizations. |
| International Visitors | Guidance for planning, hosting, and supporting international faculty, researchers, students, visiting scholars, and other research visitors. |
| International Travel | Guidance for international travel involving research activities, equipment, software, or technical information. |
| Export Control Classification | Learn how equipment, materials, software, technology, and technical information are classified under U.S. export control regulations. |
| Fundamental Research | Learn when research qualifies for the Fundamental Research Exclusion and how sponsor restrictions may affect its applicability. |
| Restricted Entity Screening | Learn how organizations and individuals are screened against U.S. government restricted party and entity lists before certain research activities. |
| Countries of Concern | Learn about countries that may require additional research security, export control, sponsor, or institutional review. |
| Sanctions & Embargo Programs | Learn about countries that may require additional review because of federal research security, sponsor, export control, or institutional requirements. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does collaborating with a foreign government organization automatically require an export license?
No. Many collaborations may proceed without an export license. However, ORS should review the proposed activity to determine whether export control, research security, sponsor, or other institutional requirements apply.
What is a Defense Service?
A Defense Service is defined under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and may include certain assistance, including training, provided to foreign persons in connection with defense articles, as well as certain activities involving controlled technical data. Whether a proposed activity constitutes a Defense Service depends on the specific facts and circumstances. ORS can assist in making this determination.
Does publicly available information eliminate export control concerns?
Not necessarily. Even when information is publicly available, providing technical assistance, training, demonstrations, or other support to a foreign defense organization may require review depending on the nature of the activity.
Are all foreign government organizations considered foreign defense organizations?
No. Most foreign government organizations are not defense organizations. This guidance applies to organizations whose activities support military or national defense objectives, such as ministries of defense, defense agencies, military organizations, military academies, defense innovation organizations, and government laboratories supporting defense activities.
Need Assistance?
Contact ORS before beginning a proposed research activity involving a foreign military organization, ministry of defense, defense agency, military academy, defense-affiliated research organization, or government laboratory supporting defense activities, or whenever you are uncertain whether research security or export control requirements apply.