Dear Colleagues:
As you may be aware, Stanford University recently published a list of the top 100,000 research scientists in the world, which included many UT faculty. This has prompted foreign governments to increase efforts to recruit U.S. researchers to talent programs. This past week a researcher on this distinguished list from another university received an email with the subject line, “2024 invitation for overseas talents to apply for the Global Excellent Scientists Fund in China.” We have been hearing that these efforts are not limited to researchers named on the Stanford list. As a result of these recruitment attempts, we are providing background on foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment programs (FGTRP), along with reporting requirements and participation restrictions. If you suspect that you have been contacted by, or are part of a talent recruitment program, please contact UT’s Research Security Team.
Talent programs are often a vital part of a foreign government’s national strategy, and are designed to enhance civilian and military programs in key areas through the integration of foreign technology. The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 requires researchers working on any federally supported research project to disclose participation in foreign talent recruitment programs to the sponsoring agency.
Further, the new law prohibits federal employees, contractors and awardees — including institutions, individual investigators and other key personnel — from participating in Malign Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs. These are defined as any type of program, position or activity that involves one or more of the following:
- Unauthorized transfer of intellectual property, materials, data or other nonpublic information;
- Recruitment of trainees or researchers to enroll in such program, position or activity;
- Establishing a laboratory or entity in a foreign country in violation of terms and conditions of a federal research award;
- Accepting a faculty position, or undertaking any other employment or appointment in violation of the standard terms and conditions of a federal research award;
- Being unable to terminate the activity except in extraordinary circumstances;
- Being limited in capacity to carry out a federal research award;
- Requirement to engage in work that overlaps or duplicates a federal research award;
- Requirement to obtain research funding from the foreign government’s entities;
- Requirement to omit acknowledgement of or affiliation with the U.S. home institution and/or the federal funding agency;
- Requirement to not disclose participation in the program, position, or activity; OR
- Having a conflict of interest or commitment contrary to a federal research award.
AND
Is sponsored by one of the following:
- A foreign country of concern (currently defined as the People's Republic of China including Hong Kong and Macau, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran); or
- An entity based in a foreign country of concern; or
- An institution or program on certain prohibited lists (contact UT’s Research Security Team for screening).
To comply with UT and federal sponsor requirements, all participation in a FGTRP must be disclosed. If you are considering an invitation that may meet any of the FGTRP criteria, or if you have other related questions, please contact UT’s Research Security Team.
Sincerely,
Michelle Stickler, DEd
Associate Vice President for Research
Director, Research Support & Compliance
