The terms research security offices, sponsored programs and researchers run into most, defined in plain language and tied to the law each one comes from.
Research security has its own vocabulary, drawn from statutes, presidential memoranda and agency policy. These 24 definitions are written in plain language and point to the law each term comes from. Where a term has a guide on this site, the definition links to it.
A company OMB designates under Section 851 of the FY2026 NDAA, the law known as the BIOSECURE Act: a biotech company on the Defense Department's Section 1260H list, one that meets three statutory criteria for foreign-adversary control and national security risk, or a parent, subsidiary or successor of either. Federal grant funds may not pay for its biotechnology equipment or services once the prohibitions take effect.
The 2022 law (Public Law 117-167) whose research security provisions require federal research agencies to bar malign foreign talent recruitment program participants from awards, to collect certifications from researchers and institutions, and to require research security training.
The standard Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support forms federal research agencies adopted under NSPM-33, so researchers disclose appointments, positions and support the same way to every agency, usually prepared in SciENcv.
A situation in which an outside activity, such as a foreign appointment, could interfere with a researcher's obligations to their institution or a federal award, regardless of whether any money changes hands. It differs from a conflict of interest, which concerns financial interests.
Under the CHIPS and Science Act, a person who contributes in a substantive, meaningful way to the scientific development or execution of a federally funded research and development project and whom the funding agency designates as covered, typically senior or key personnel.
The disclosure of all resources made available to a researcher in support of their research, including foreign appointments, in-kind support and positions, whether or not they have monetary value. Omissions here are the most common research security finding.
The release of controlled technology or source code to a foreign person inside the United States, treated as an export to that person's country. Results of fundamental research are generally not subject to these controls; the technology used to produce them can be.
The Department of War's tool for risk-based security review of fundamental research proposals. The 2026 version weighs four factors (talent programs, funding sources, patents, and affiliations with entities on 13 federal lists) over a five-year look-back, classing each as prohibited or mitigation required.
Life sciences research that, based on current understanding, can reasonably be anticipated to provide knowledge, products or technologies that could be directly misapplied to pose a significant threat to public health, agriculture, the environment or national security. Federal oversight policy for it is being revised; check your funding agency's current guidance.
A Commerce Department list of foreign persons, companies and institutions subject to license requirements for exports of items under the Export Administration Regulations. It is one of the 13 federal lists the 2026 DoW decision matrix checks.
In NIH terms, a significant scientific element or segment of a project performed outside the United States, by the recipient or by a researcher employed by a foreign organization, whether or not grant funds are spent there. Foreign components need NIH's prior approval.
China, North Korea, Russia and Iran, plus any other country the Secretary of State determines to be engaged in conduct detrimental to U.S. national security or foreign policy. Sponsorship by one of them is part of what makes a talent program malign.
A term several statutes use for organizations owned, controlled or directed by a foreign country of concern, or named on certain federal lists. The exact definition differs from statute to statute, so the source of the term matters.
One of the four elements of a research security program under NSPM-33: a foreign travel policy, disclosure and authorization of covered international travel, security briefings before travel, and assistance and debriefs after.
Basic and applied research in science and engineering whose results ordinarily are published and shared broadly within the research community, as distinguished from proprietary or restricted research. National policy since 1985 keeps it free of controls except through classification.
Under the CHIPS and Science Act, a program, position or activity that rewards a researcher in exchange for conduct a federal award forbids, such as unauthorized transfer of research or concealment, when sponsored by a foreign country of concern or by an institution or program on the Section 1286 lists.
The January 2021 presidential memorandum on research security for federally funded research. It drives standardized disclosure, digital persistent identifiers, consequences for violations, information sharing, and research security programs at institutions receiving more than $50 million a year in federal science and engineering support.
Safeguarding the research enterprise against the misappropriation of research and development to the detriment of national or economic security, related violations of research integrity, and foreign government interference, while keeping research open and collaborative.
The program a covered institution certifies it maintains under NSPM-33, with four elements: cybersecurity, foreign travel security, research security training, and export control training.
Training on the risks to the research enterprise and how to report and handle them, which federal agencies require of covered individuals on proposals under the CHIPS and Science Act, and which is a required element of an NSPM-33 research security program.
The Defense Department's annual list of Chinese military companies operating in the United States, under Section 1260H of the FY2021 NDAA. It is one of the matrix's 13 federal lists and the source of the BIOSECURE Act's first designation pathway.
The Department of War's annual list of foreign institutions and talent recruitment programs that pose a threat to national security research, required by Section 1286 of the FY2019 NDAA as amended. Defense funds may not support fundamental research in collaboration with a listed institution.
The National Science Foundation-funded center that shares research security information and resources with the research community, as the CHIPS and Science Act directed.
The United Kingdom's name for research security: guidance that helps researchers and institutions protect their work, their partnerships and their reputation from hostile state activity while staying open to international collaboration.
Definitions summarize the cited law or policy for orientation. Where the statute or agency notice defines a term, its wording controls.
What the OMB list means for institutions: the designation pathways, the timeline, and the supplier audit.
Read the guide →What the Defense Department's list is, what a listing triggers, and how to screen collaborators against it.
Read the guide →Each agency's talent program certification side by side: effective date, notice, who certifies and how.
Read the guide →What to review before an audit, how to assess export-control exposure, and what a defensible mitigation plan holds.
Read the guide →What the CHIPS and Science Act forbids, what it protects, and where talent programs show up on the record.
Read the guide →The four factors Defense program officers weigh for fundamental research proposals, explained.
Read the guide →All guides → New to the terms? The research security glossary →
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