US and International

The United States (US) has implemented research security measures that impact Canadian researchers seeking American funding. US government funding agencies – namely, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DoD), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DoE) – have different research security requirements.

The measures established by these agencies are guided by the 2021 National Security Presidential Memo-33 (NSPM-33) (external link, opens in new window)  and the subsequent  (PDF file) 2022 guidance to federal agencies for implementing NSPM-33 (external link, opens in new window) , issued by the Office of Science and Technology Policy. These measures are also reflective of requirements set out in the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act (external link, opens in new window) .

Researchers are encouraged to consult with their US partners on any US institution-specific requirements.  

Applicable to All US Agencies – Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs 

“Covered Individuals” will need to certify that they are not active participants in a malign foreign talent recruitment program (MFTRP) (external link)  at the time of the proposed submission and annually thereafter for the life of the award. They will also need to disclose participation in all foreign talent recruitment programs (FTRPs) (external link) . This regulation is effective as of May 20, 2024 for the NSF and August 9, 2024 for all other externally sponsored awards (Federal and non-Federal).

While general participation in foreign talent recruitment programs is not prohibited under the current federal or provincial research security policies, researchers should be aware of the foreign funding and conflict of interest or conflict of commitment disclosure requirements and other potential implications to existing and future government grants.

As a best practice, please consult with the OVPRI for tailored advice before committing to a foreign talent recruitment program.