Foreign Entity Collaborations

Here at Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT), we accept and encourage collaborations from all over the world. This allows GIT to foster strong academic ties and continue its growth.

We also have a duty to ensure that we are being good stewards of the data and technology we generate. To do this, we also need safeguards and guidance regarding how we engage with foreign groups and how to prevent undue foreign influence.

What Is Undue “Foreign Influence”?

Federal and state agencies have particular concerns about undue foreign influence such as:

• not disclosing support from outside activities or foreign organizations in federal grant applications that may overlap with grant scope or over-commitment;
• sharing of confidential information as peer reviewers of federal grant applications;
• undisclosed significant financial conflicts of interest;
• misappropriation or unlawful transfer of intellectual property, data, or unpublished research results;
• unlawful transfer of materials and samples;
• presence of agreements with foreign entities that may impose obligations that are contrary to university policies or federal grant requirements; and
• data security and cyberattack vulnerability.

Several federal agencies have indicated that failure to disclose foreign relationships and activities could jeopardize future funding.

Undue foreign influence concerns can be mitigated by informing GIT faculty and staff of disclosure requirements and best practices to prevent inadvertent or premature sharing of sensitive data to foreign entities.