Research Security

What is Research Security?

National Security Presidential Memorandum – 33 (NSPM-33) began a process at the federal government in Jan. 2021 to “strengthen protections of United States Government-supported Research and Development against foreign government interference and exploitation.” Additional guidance and legislation were subsequently passed, and federal funding agencies continue to implement policy and requirements to accomplish the NSPM-33 objectives. NSPM – 33 Implementation Guidance defines research security as:

NSPM – 33 Implementation Guidance as well as the Office of Science and Technology policy memorandum dated July 9, 2024 which requires “a certification from research organizations awarded in excess of $50 million per year in total federal research funding that they have implemented a research security programthat includes four elements highlighted in NSPM-33:”

• Cybersecurity
• Foreign Travel Security
• Research Security Training
• Export Control Training

Research Security at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech values and encourages international research, collaboration, and scholarship where global citizens engage with different ideas, beliefs, perspectives, experiences, identities, backgrounds and cultures. Virginia Tech is equally committed to meeting regulatory compliance in all areas of our education and research activities so that we are responsible stewards of public and private funding.

The Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance (OESRC) assists faculty, staff, students, and departments in complying with numerous federal regulations governing dissemination and safeguarding of information that may intersect with national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. OESRC collaborates with departments across campus to provide guidance and services with a goal to both support the free and open exchange of ideas and international collaborations where appropriate while also ensuring safeguarding and compliance requirements aremet when necessary.

Virginia Tech has designated OESRC as the cognizant research security office, and the chief research security officer (CRSO) as the designated research security point of contact pursuant to NSPM - 33. The CRSO liaises with other university departments and facilitatesmeeting all NSPM – 33 requirements by leveraging existing programs, policies, and procedures across the university whenever possible. University-wide partnerships are essential to the success of the research security program. These partnerships include:

• Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) teams: Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance, Office of Sponsored Programs, Electronic Research Administration, Innovation and Partnerships, and ORI leadership
• University Legal Counsel
• Division of Information Technology
• Office of International Affairs, notably Global Safety and Risk Management
• Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance
• University Libraries
• Procurement
• Colleges and departments

Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act of 2022 Public Law No: 117-167 imposed a prohibition onmalign foreign talent recruitment programs as well as requiring annual research security training. As a result, Virginia Tech created Policy 13046 and developed an online research security training program to meet the requirements of this law.

For more information about research security requirements, visit one of the below references or contact ResearchSecurity@vt.edu for assistance:

• Disclosures to Virginia Tech and federal sponsors: visit Foreign Influence in
  Federally-Sponsored Research – Guidance page
• Global safety, including international travel: visit Global Safety and Risk
  Management page, see Policy 1070, or visit the OESRC International Travel Page