To ensure the widest possible dissemination of research results, universities focus most of their research on conducting basic research – research intended to be published openly in the scientific literature. There are some instances when universities engage in important defense-related, select agents, or other forms of dual-use research that requires compliance with specific security and/or other information controls. AAU works with its members and the government to ensure that security controls are appropriately applied and that a reasonable balance is maintained between the open dissemination of scientific knowledge and requirements that control scientific information to protect national security and for other reasons.
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As lawmakers consider measures related to securing federally funded research data and intellectual property, it is important to understand the current state of play for research security in the country to avoid new requirements that are duplicative, unnecessary, or counterproductive

Summary of relevant research security provisions in the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act.

AAU, AAMC, ACE, APLU, and COGR submitted a memorandum with joint comments to the National Science Foundation yesterday on standardized disclosure forms and materials created by the National Science and Technology Council as part of the Biden administration’s implementation of National Security Presidential Memorandum-33.

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AAU President Barbara R. Snyder sent a letter to the leadership of the House and Senate Education and Labor Committees expressing concern “with the potential adverse consequences of the new Higher Education Act (HEA) Section 124 reporting requirement created by Section 6124(b) of S. 1260, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA).”
AAU joined 79 other organizations in resending a letter to House and Senate leaders of the appropriations subcommittees on energy and water to request a one-time appropriation of $31.5 million to establish the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation at the Department of Energy.
Letters | FY23 | Department of Energy | Federal Budget | Science & Security | Innovation and Competitiveness
Side-by-side comparison of various America COMPETES Act and USICA Research Security provisions.
AAU joined ACE and 20 higher education associations in a letter to Congress outlining priorities for provisions related to STEM education and scientific research and innovation in the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength (COMPETES) Act of 2022 (H.R. 4521) and the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S. 1260)
Letters | National Science Foundation | Department of Energy | Department of Education | Science & Security | Immigration | Higher Education Regulation | Higher Education Legislation | Innovation and Competitiveness
President Snyder sent a letter to House and Senate leaders outlining priorities for several key provisions that Congress is discussing as part of the conference process for the Senate-passed USICA and the House-passed America COMPETES Act.
Letters | Technology Transfer | National Science Foundation | Department of Energy | Science & Security | Immigration | Higher Education Legislation | Innovation and Competitiveness