Introduction
The University of Missouri values international collaborations and recognizes that such collaborations are integral to fulfilling our mission as a public, land-grant university. It is important that MU researchers be open and fully transparent about their foreign relationships and activities. The following processes, information and resources provide guidance that will help you meet your reporting obligations to federal sponsors and MU.
Before engaging with a party outside of the United States, make sure you have appropriate approvals in place:
- Researchers with activities in which the university is a party may need to work with International Programs, Sponsored Programs Administration, Technology Advancement, Shared Services or other units to ensure appropriate agreements are on file. All agreements with parties outside the U.S. are screened for export control, sanctions and other research security risks. We will notify you if there are any special mitigation measures that need to be taken.
- Researchers with activities in which the university is not a party should make sure they are following CRR 330.015 Policy on Conflict of Interest (COI) by disclosing potential conflicts and obtaining approvals before engaging in the activity. Engagements with parties outside the U.S. in high-risk countries are screened for sanctions and other research security risks. We will notify you if there are any special mitigation measures that need to be taken. Researchers who disclose engagements with parties outside the U.S. in low-risk countries will receive risk-based guidance in their approval letters. More information about Conflict of Interest at MU.
- Researchers who have general collaborations, host foreign people on B visas or conduct other activities not described above should email exportcontrols@missouri.edu with the name of the party (both person and home institution). We are happy to screen these activities for export control, sanctions and other research security risks and to provide you with feedback and advice.
It is of utmost importance that disclosures to your federal sponsors (including awards that pass through another entity) are accurate and timely. More information on what and when to disclose to federal sponsors.
- Federal sponsors are asking universities to put certain mitigation measures in place in order to secure funding. As a result, Research Security and Compliance will provide support and may implement a Research Security Plan to address any research security concerns articulated by federal sponsors.
- Participation in Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (defined in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022) is a major concern for federal funding agencies. Not disclosing other support (also known as current and pending support) is a breach of trust with our sponsors and demonstrates a lack of transparency. As such, after completing the technical merit review to decide which proposals to fund, federal agencies are beginning to complete a decision matrix to evaluate risks associated with the funding of fundamental research proposals. The Department of Defense has announced its decision matrix and may request that MU take additional mitigation measures to secure funding.
Sanctions
If you need to engage with a party located in a comprehensively sanctioned destination or a destination with targeted sanctions, it is important that you partner with Research Security and Compliance before the engagement begins. While some activities may be easily permitted by the federal government, some common activities (like research collaborations) may require explicit permission from the federal government.
Review more information on sanctions or contact MU's Export Controls and Sanctions professionals on the Research Security and Compliance team with questions.