Research Activities and Export Controls
Research at Stony Brook University (SBU)
Even though most research conducted at SBU is Fundamental Research (see discussion below) there are many situations where export controls apply to SBU research activities.
State University of New York (SUNY) Policy PROHIBIT the acceptance of any awards that:
- Restrict dissemination of research results (Document 1800) and/or
- Restrict foreign national participation (Document 1801)
Awards that want to accept restrictions must apply for a waiver through the Research Security Program.
What is Fundamental Research?
Fundamental Research is a term that has been defined by the U.S. government (in National Security Decision Directives 189 - NSDD-189) and then used within the export control regulations to carve out what is not subject to export control regulations.
Important: Acceptance of any restrictions (including verbal agreement of prior review and approval of publications) on dissemination invalidates the Fundamental Research carve out in the export control regulations. This means that these projects need to be evaluated to determine if they are (or could) creating any export controlled items or if export licenses are required for non-U.S. project personnel.
Potential Areas of Export Control
- Receipt of Third-Party Confidential Information
- International Activities (both in the U.S. and abroad
- shipping, hand-carrying, collaborations, visitors, conferences
- Export controlled materials, equipment or information
- foreign national access both in the U.S. and abroad
- Research that is not Fundamental
- proprietary research or U.S. government funded research that has restrictions on dissemination/publication
- Research (funded or unfunded) for the benefit of an international entity
Additional Resources:
Are the Results/Outcomes of Research Export Controlled?
When conducting Fundamental Research the results (the information and in some instances software) is not subject to the export control regulations. However, tangible items remain subject to the export control regulations and may require an export license for some destinations/recipients.