The document provides a multi-institutional overview of the current landscape concerning science, research security, and the management of foreign influence within U.S. academic research, featuring insights from leadership at the University of Florida, University of Connecticut, University of California San Diego, and the Association of American Universities. Panelists discuss the significant federal and state pressures faced by universities to ensure transparency around the affiliations, activities, and funding sources of their researchers—especially regarding relationships with foreign entities considered adversarial, such as China and other designated countries. Universities are responding through a combination of regulatory compliance initiatives, educational efforts, the centralization and strengthening of disclosure and review systems, and the implementation of comprehensive international risk assessments. The evolving policy environment, including recent legislation such as Florida’s HB7017 and federal mandates like NSPM-33, is prompting rigorous oversight of contracts, travel, support mechanisms, and faculty activities, with universities investing in system-based solutions and internal task forces to manage risk and ensure research integrity.
In addition to compliance-focused strategies, the document emphasizes the balance between fostering international scientific collaboration and safeguarding research from undue foreign influence. Institutional approaches highlighted include robust faculty education, frequent communication of compliance expectations, and the creation of infrastructure for monitoring and managing risks associated with global research engagements. Leaders underscore the ethical imperatives of transparency, proper disclosure, and the protection of intellectual property and confidential information, while acknowledging opportunities inherent in maintaining openness and international engagement. At the national level, associations like AAU advocate for productive relationships with federal agencies, and emphasize both sharing best practices and articulating the continuing need for openness in fundamental scientific research. The consensus across institutions is that although research security challenges are intensifying, proactive institutional cultures that value compliance, transparency, and responsible global engagement are essential for sustaining U.S. leadership in science and innovation.
