International Collaborations | University Research

Overview

Auburn University supports open, ethical, and secure international research collaborations that advance discovery, education, and public impact. Global partnerships are essential to addressing complex challenges and enriching the university’s teaching, research, and outreach mission. At the same time, Auburn University is committed to ensuring that all international engagements comply with U.S. laws and regulations, sponsor requirements, and university policies.

Federal agencies have increased expectations for transparency and accountability in international research. Failure to meet disclosure and research security requirements may result in delays or denial of proposals and awards, termination of active funding, or institutional and sponsor-imposed penalties. In rare cases, noncompliance may lead to civil or criminal consequences. Early disclosure and proactive engagement with university offices are essential to protecting both researchers and the institution.

This page provides key guidance and resources for faculty, staff, and research administrators engaged in or considering international collaborations.

What is an International Collaboration?

An international collaboration includes any research, scholarly, educational, or technical activity involving a foreign institution, government, company, nonprofit, researcher, or activity conducted outside the United States.

Examples may include:

Joint research or co-authorship with a foreign collaborator
Research activities conducted outside the United States
Exchange or sharing of data, materials, software, equipment, technical information, or samples
Participation in international consortia, networks, centers, or talent recruitment programs
Hosting or sending visiting scholars, students, observers, research staff, or visiting scientists
Foreign gifts, contracts, sponsored research, subawards, consultants, contractors, or vendors
Holding an appointment, affiliation, lab, or funded role at a foreign institution
Unfunded or informal research relationships
International travel related to research

NOTE: Both formal and informal collaborations can carry compliance, disclosure, and security obligations.

Researcher Responsibilities

Faculty, investigators, and research personnel engaged in international collaborations are responsible for ensuring that their activities are properly disclosed, reviewed, and conducted in accordance with institutional, sponsor, and federal requirements.

Researchers should review the responsibilities below before initiating or participating in international research, scholarly, educational, or technical activities.

Researchers must fully and accurately disclose foreign affiliations, appointments, activities, and support, whether funded or unfunded, in accordance with the OSVPRED Procedural Guidance: Disclosure Framework Pursuant to NSPM-33 and applicable sponsor requirements.

Researchers must:

Disclose all foreign affiliations, appointments, activities, and support, including funded, unfunded, in-kind, or non-monetary support.
Report all resources made available in support of their work, including lab space, personnel, equipment, materials, data access, or other research support, regardless of whether the resources are provided through AU.
Ensure consistency across proposal documents, including biosketches, current and pending/other support, and conflict-of-interest disclosures.

Understand and comply with agency-specific rules regarding foreign components, prior approvals, and participation restrictions, including requirements from federal sponsors such as NIH, NSF, NASA, DOE, DoD, and USDA.
Disclose foreign components, foreign affiliations, international activities, and other sponsor-required information.
Obtain sponsor approval before engaging in activities that require advance review or authorization.
Avoid prohibited relationships and activities, including participation in Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs.
Complete any sponsor-required training, such as Responsible Conduct of Research and Research Security Training. Training is available through the CITI Program.

Ensure appropriate agreements are in place before sharing data, materials, software, equipment, confidential information, or technical information. Examples may include MOUs, subawards, material transfer agreements, and data transfer agreements.
Protect intellectual property, publication rights, student interests, and confidential or sensitive information.
Promptly disclose inventions or intellectual property arising from international collaborations.
Protect sensitive data, research systems, and institutional accounts when collaborating internationally.
Report suspected cybersecurity incidents, compromised accounts, or unauthorized data access.

Comply with U.S. export control laws and economic sanctions when sharing technology, data, software, equipment, technical information, or materials across borders.
Exercise additional caution for collaborations involving countries subject to heightened federal scrutiny, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Understand that these collaborations are not necessarily prohibited, but may require enhanced disclosure, due diligence, prior review, and risk mitigation.
Consult the Research Security Compliance Office before engaging with restricted institutions, restricted individuals, or activities involving sanctioned countries or entities.

Some foreign universities, companies, and research institutions may be subject to U.S. government restrictions, including:

Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Sanctions List
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Entity and Unverified Lists
DoD Section 1286 List
NDAA Section 1260H List

Restrictions may affect activities such as:

Sharing data, software, technology, or technical information
Exporting or transferring equipment
Hosting visiting scholars, students, or researchers
Entering into agreements or collaborations
Receiving or using federal funding

Before You Begin: International Collaboration Readiness Checklist

At Auburn, we promote a risk-aware approach to international collaborations. Before getting started, review the following questions to help identify potential compliance and regulatory considerations:

Have all foreign roles, resources, and affiliations been disclosed?
Do I know everyone who will be participating in the collaboration?
Does the work involve restrictions on publication or participation?
Will controlled data, technology, or equipment be shared?
Are export controls or sanctions implicated?
What funding sources will be used for this collaboration?
Are appropriate agreements in place?
Could the collaboration affect future federal funding eligibility?

Frequently Asked Questions

Disclosures should be made through Auburn University’s Conflict of Interest program in Endeavor.

Yes, but these collaborations may require additional review, disclosure, and risk mitigation.

The term "foreign country of concern" means the People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, or any other country determined to be a country of concern by the Secretary of State.

Restricted entity lists can change daily, so consult the Office of Research Security Compliance before engaging in research activities.

As early as possible, especially when planning proposals, agreements, or disclosures.

Situation	Contact
Proposal includes foreign components or collaborators	Office of Sponsored Programs / Research Security Compliance
Disclosure of foreign affiliations or other support	Office of Research Integrity & Compliance
International agreements (MOUs, subcontracts)	Office of Sponsored Programs
Data use, material transfer, or licensing agreements	IPX
Export controls, sanctions, restricted party screening	Research Security Compliance
Any compromised accounts or other IT threats	Office of Information Technology