Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs

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Research and Creative Activity has recently been made aware of emails directed to NDSU faculty members which are recruiting involvement in a foreign talent program.  Because this specific foreign talent program in based in China, it is considered by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 to be a malign foreign talent recruitment program.  NDSU’s research successes have made its faculty targets for recruitment into such programs.

  • If you have received this email or similar offers, please forward the email/offer to the Export Control Office (ndsuexportcontrols@ndsu.edu).
  • Questions about foreign talent programs can be directed to the Export Control Administrator Sharon.May@ndsu.edu
REMEMBER YOUR OBLIGATIONS AS A RESEARCHER  If you participate in a foreign talent recruitment program you must disclose such participation or foreign appointment, including any compensation, in-kind or funded research support, or resources provided by the foreign entity. This required disclosure would be made both as an external professional activity and included on appropriate federal forms - typically Current and Pending/Other Support, and/or Biosketch. 

NOTE: As early as 2024, investigators will not be able to receive or apply for federal funding if they are engaged with a malign foreign talent recruitment program.

  • The US Federal Government has placed restrictions on researcher participating in Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs. The Chips and Science Act defines a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program as "any program, position, or activity that includes compensation in the form of cash, in-kind compensation, including research funding, promised future compensation, complimentary foreign travel, things of non de minimis." 
  • If you have been asked to do any of the following in connection with a foreign entity, discuss the invitation with your department chair/head, dean, or VP.
    • Engage in the unauthorized transfer of intellectual property, materials, data, or other nonpublic information;
    • Recruitment trainees or researchers to enroll in program or activity or accept a position with a foreign entity;
    • Establish a lab;
    • Form a company;
    • Accept a faculty position or other employment;
    • Sign a contract or agreement which you are unable to terminate except in extraordinary circumstances;
    • Commit a specified amount of time to work for the foreign institution;
    • Engage in work which would overlap with your NDSU research;
    • Apply for or receive funding from a foreign government that would be awarded to the foreign institution;
    • Omit acknowledgement of a foreign institution, or any US federal research sponsor;
    • To not disclose to NDSU or the federal government, your affiliation with the foreign institution.
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