The U.S. Department of Defense recently took action to protect department-funded research from foreign malign influence, intellectual property theft, and other forms of exploitation that threaten the United States’ security and economic interests.
These actions are intended to identify vulnerabilities faster, more aggressively enforce compliance and more rigorously strengthen protections. They include:
The department is prohibiting fundamental research assistance grants be awarded to companies listed under Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorization Act. The section identifies Chinese military companies operating in the United States
The department created a department-wide Fundamental Research Risk Review Repository to improve information collection and sharing.
Where practicable, the department is identifying and developing automated vetting and continuous monitoring capabilities to help detect and mitigate foreign influence risks.
In addition, there will be standardized reporting of current and pending foreign support, expanded training for research security personnel, additional annual spot checks of research awards, and coordinated assessments of cases highlighted by congressional oversight committees.
The Fundamental Research Security Initiatives and Implementation memorandum reflects the department’s commitment to strong research security and close alignment with congressional oversight efforts including the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, House and Senate Appropriations Committees, and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.