*New* New Guidance on International Collaborations
Posted: 6/25/2026 ()
The UW has issued new guidance on managing international research collaborations that might yield security concerns and require appropriate diligence. Faculty, staff, postdocs, and students should familiarize themselves with University research security policies and requirements and exercise appropriate diligence when participating in international collaborations, professional activities, and scholarly exchanges.
International Activities Assessment: The University requires an International Activities Assessment prior to undertaking certain international activities that present elevated research security risks.
An assessment is required when:
- A party to the activity, agreement, transaction, or collaboration is located in, headquartered in, associated with the government of, substantially owned or controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction of a country of concern: China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Iran, North Korea, Russia, Crimea and the “Covered Regions” of Russian-occupied Ukraine (Donetsk and Luhansk), Belarus, Cuba, and Venezuela.
- The activity involves a foreign military, intelligence, security, or police organization, or a research institution affiliated with such organizations, regardless of country.
Activities requiring assessment may include, but are not limited to:
- Sponsored research collaborations
- Data-sharing arrangements
- Memoranda of understanding and institutional agreements
- Visiting scholar appointments
- Joint research programs
- International research centers or laboratories
- Activities expected to result in co-authorship
- Transfers of information, materials, technology, software, or equipment
- Foreign funding arrangements or gifts associated with research activities.
To initiate an International Activities Assessment, the head of the academic or administrative unit should contact: Xiaosong Li, xsli@uw.edu, Senior Associate Dean for Research, College of Arts & Sciences.
International Collaborations and Research Activities: Before initiating international research collaborations or related research activities, investigators should determine whether the proposed engagement requires review (see International Activities Assessment) under University research security, export control, sponsor, or disclosure requirements. Activities involving institutions or organizations associated with countries of concern may be subject to additional review, approval, or reporting obligations. Faculty who become aware of potential concerns regarding a foreign collaboration, institutional affiliation, or international activity are encouraged to consult with their unit leadership as early as possible.
Official International Travel: All faculty, staff, students, postdoctoral scholars, and other academic personnel engaged in UW research are required to register official international travel through the UW International Travel Registry prior to departure.
Personal International Travel: Covered Individuals are required to register personal international travel undertaken for teaching, research, conferences, professional meetings, or related scholarly activities through the UW International Travel Registry.
Lectures and Academic Visits Abroad: Faculty and researchers may continue to participate in scholarly exchanges, lectures, and conferences abroad. When presenting at institutions located in countries of concern (see International Activities Assessment), faculty are expected to:
- Ensure that the event is publicly announced whenever feasible.
- Confirm that the announcement includes the date, location, presentation title, and abstract.
- Limit presentations to information that is already publicly available through publications, conference presentations, preprints, or other open scientific communications.
- Avoid sharing unpublished results, proprietary information, controlled technologies, or other sensitive research information unless appropriate approvals have been obtained.
Restricted and Sanctioned Entities: Federal restrictions affecting foreign institutions continue to evolve. Faculty and research personnel should be aware that institutions or organizations with which they collaborate may subsequently be placed on U.S. government restricted, sanctioned, or prohibited entity lists.
If an institution, collaborator, or organization becomes subject to U.S. government restrictions, faculty and staff should immediately notify the University and suspend any activities that may be affected pending a compliance review. Continued engagement may be prohibited under federal law, sponsor requirements, or University policy. Faculty who become aware of potential concerns regarding a foreign collaboration, institutional affiliation, or international activity are encouraged to consult with their unit leadership as early as possible.
Additional UW Research Security Resources: Faculty and research personnel are strongly encouraged to review the University’s Research Security website and associated guidance documents:
- Research Security at UW
- Foreign Interests in Sponsored Programs
- International Activities Assessment Process
- Export Controls
- International Travel Registry Requirements
Questions regarding research security, international collaborations, foreign engagements, or compliance obligations should be discussed with unit leadership before commitments are made, agreements are executed, or activities are initiated.