Academic Visitors may participate in government-funded research and training projects. The U.S. government increasingly expects U.S. academic institutions to manage and protect the intellectual property (IP) created via these projects, particularly if the IP is considered valuable to U.S. national interests. These expectations have become more pronounced due to an increasing number of research integrity violations caused by undisclosed foreign engagements and unapproved transfers of data, technology, and materials to foreign countries. The University created an International Research and Engagement website that addresses these concerns.
In the spirit of the University’s Guidance on Research Data Management, University hosts are, at their discretion, permitted to share unpublished research data with Academic Visitors. However, hosts should also understand their obligation to directly manage and safeguard an Academic Visitor’s use of such data under the Visitor’s approved scope of work. Often times, this data is supported by tax payer funded projects through one or more U.S. government agencies. Principal Investigators of federally funded projects are required to disclose a Visitor’s participation in such projects to the funding agency under their disclosure policies. Greater care and security should be afforded to data and technology that is seen as more valuable, and in some cases, “irreplaceable”.
Some students funded by foreign governments are obligated to report back at regular times on their progress. These reports may include unpublished data from a federally funded project. It is important to establish a process whereby the University host reviews and approves the release of any university owned data within a required report.