Foreign Talent Recruitment Program

Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (FTRP) are funded, managed, and organized by foreign governments (directly or indirectly) to recruit faculty, professionals, and – in some cases – students in targeted science and technology areas/disciplines without regard to a participant’s national origin and/or citizenship.

FTRP sponsors may include national, regional or local governments as well as non-U.S. universities. The foreign government sponsor may not explicitly state that the opportunity/activity is part of a FTRP.

While many FTRPs are legitimate and have mutually beneficial purposes, some may require or incentivize activities that are contrary to regulations, policies, and core research values to attract and retain talent. These are referred to as Malign FTRPs (MFTRP). Please see the Key Terms section below to learn more about FTRPs and MFTRPs.

Congress, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other government organizations view MFTRPs as threats to the integrity and security of the U.S. research enterprise. The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 prohibits participation in a MFTRP by covered individuals involved with research and development awards from federal research agencies and directs those agencies to maintain policies that–

require covered individuals to disclose all participation in FTRPs, and
prohibit recipients of federal support from participating in any MFTRPs.

Therefore, faculty and researchers should carefully consider participation in FTRPs and seek assistance from the Office of Research to help determine if an FTRP is a MFTRP.

KR Federal Disclosure and Certification

Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program certification (third question of form)

Click Here

Federal Sponsors with Malign FTRP Prohibitions

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (October 1, 2024)- Senior/key personnel must certify they are not a party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program
Department of Defense (August 9, 2024)- federal sponsor prohibited from funding research project that involves a covered individual participating in a malign FTRP; requires proposing institutions to have a policy on malign FTRP pursuant to CHIPS and Science Act of 2022
National Science Foundation (May 20, 2024)- senior/key persons are required to certify that they are not party to a malign FTRP

More coming soon...

Key Terms

Based on Guidelines for Federal Research Agencies Regarding Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs

Foreign Talent Recruitment Program Definition

Foreign talent recruitment program: any program, position, or activity that includes compensation in the form of cash, in-kind compensation, including research funding, promised future compensation, complimentary foreign travel, things of non de minimis value, honorific titles, career advancement opportunities, or other types of remuneration or consideration directly provided by a foreign country at any level (national, provincial, or local) or their designee, or an entity based in, funded by, or affiliated with a foreign country, whether or not directly sponsored by the foreign country, to an individual, whether directly or indirectly stated in the arrangement, contract, or other documentation at issue.

Excludes the following international collaboration activities unless activity is funded, organized or managed by an academic institution or foreign talent recruitment program on the Section 1286(c)(8) and (9) lists in NDAA FY 2019:
- Making scholarly presentations and publishing written materials regarding scientific information not otherwise controlled under current law;
- Participating in international conferences or other international exchanges, research projects or programs that involve open and reciprocal exchange of scientific information, and which are aimed at advancing international scientific understanding and not otherwise controlled under current law;
- Advising a foreign student enrolled at an institution of higher education or writing a recommendation for such a student, at such student's request; and
- Engaging in the following international activities:
  - Activities that are partly sponsored or otherwise supported by the United States such as serving as a government appointee to the board of a joint scientific fund (e.g., the U.S. Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation); providing advice to or otherwise participating in international technical organizations, multilateral scientific organizations, and standards setting bodies (e.g., the International Telecommunications Union, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, etc.); participating in a Fulbright Commission program funded in whole or in part by a host country government; or other routine international scientific exchanges and interactions such as providing invited lectures or participating in international peer review panels.
  - Involvement in national or international academies or professional societies that produce publications in the open scientific literature that are not in conflict with the interests of the federal research agency (e.g., membership in the Pontifical Academy of Sciences or The Royal Society).
  - Taking a sabbatical, serving as a visiting scholar, or engaging in continuing education activities such as receiving a doctorate or professional certification at an institution of higher education (e.g., the University of Oxford, McGill University) that are not in conflict with the interests of the federal research agency.
  - Receiving awards for research and development which serve to enhance the prestige of the federal research agency (e.g., the Nobel Prize).
  - Other international activities determined appropriate by the federal research agency head or designee.

Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program Definition

A malign foreign talent recruitment program is:

(A) any program, position, or activity that includes compensation in the form of cash, in-kind compensation, including research funding, promised future compensation, complimentary foreign travel, things of non de minimis value, honorific titles, career advancement opportunities, or other types of remuneration or consideration directly provided by a foreign country at any level (national, provincial, or local) or their designee, or an entity based in, funded by, or affiliated with a foreign country, whether or not directly sponsored by the foreign country, to the targeted individual, whether directly or indirectly stated in the arrangement, contract, or other documentation at issue, in exchange for the individual—

engaging in the unauthorized transfer of intellectual property, materials, data products, or other nonpublic information owned by a United States entity or developed with a Federal research and development award to the government of a foreign country or an entity based in, funded by, or affiliated with a foreign country regardless of whether that government or entity provided support for the development of the intellectual property, materials, or data products;
being required to recruit trainees or researchers to enroll in such program, position, or activity;
establishing a laboratory or company, accepting a faculty position, or undertaking any other employment or appointment in a foreign country or with an entity based in, funded by, or affiliated with a foreign country if such activities are in violation of the standard terms and conditions of a Federal research and development award;
being unable to terminate the foreign talent recruitment program contract or agreement except in extraordinary circumstances;
through funding or effort related to the foreign talent recruitment program, being limited in the capacity to carry out a research and development award or required to engage in work that would result in substantial overlap or duplication with a Federal research and development award;
being required to apply for and successfully receive funding from the sponsoring foreign government's funding agencies with the sponsoring foreign organization as the recipient;
being required to omit acknowledgment of the recipient institution with which the individual is affiliated, or the Federal research agency sponsoring the research and development award, contrary to the institutional policies or standard terms and conditions of the Federal research and development award;
being required to not disclose to the Federal research agency or employing institution the participation of such individual in such program, position, or activity; or
having a conflict of interest or conflict of commitment contrary to the standard terms and conditions of the Federal research and development award; and

(B) a program that is sponsored by—

a foreign country of concern or an entity based in a foreign country of concern, whether or not directly sponsored by the foreign country of concern;
an academic institution on the list developed under section 1286(c)(8) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (10 U.S.C. 4001 note; Public Law 115-232)- see list below; or
a foreign talent recruitment program on the list developed under section 1286(c)(9) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (10 U.S.C. 4001 note; Public Law 115-232)- see list below

US Federal Government List of Institutions of People's Republic of China, Russian Federation, and other Countries with Specified Characteristics: Section 1286(c)(8)

US Federal Government List of Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs: Section 1286(c)(9)

Institution Name(s)	Country
Academy of Military Medical Sciences	China
Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Field Blood Transfusion Institution	China
Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Institute of Basic Medicine	China
Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Institute of Bioengineering	China
Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Institute of Disease Control and Prevention a.k.a. Disease Control and Prevention Institute	China
Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Institute of Health Service and Medical Information	China
Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine	China
Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Equipment	China
Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology a.k.a. Institute of Microbial Epidemiology	China
Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Institute of Radiation and Radiation a.k.a. Institute of Radiation and Radiation Medicine; Institute of Electromagnetic and Particle Radiation Medicine	China
Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology a.k.a. Institute of Toxicology and Drugs	China
Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Military Veterinary Research Institute	China
Air Force Aviation University	China
Air Force Command College	China
Air Force Communication NCO Academy	China
Air Force Early Warning Academy	China
Air Force Engineering University	China
Air Force Harbin Flight Academy	China
Air Force Logistics College	China
Air Force Medical University	China
Air Force Shijianzhuang Flight Academy	China
Air Force Xi'an Flight Academy	China
Amirkabir University of Technology	Iran
Army Academy of Armored Forces	China
Army Academy of Artillery and Air Defense	China
Army Academy of Border and Coastal Defense	China
Army Aviation Academy	China
Army Command College	China
Army Engineering University	China
Army Infantry College	China
Army Institute of NBC Defence	China
Army Logistic University	China
Army Medical University	China
Army Military Transportation University	China
Army Special Operations Academy	China
Astrakhan State University	Russia
ATR Defense S&T Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing at Shenzhen University	China
Bauman Moscow State Technical University	Russia
Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences	China
Beijing Aeronautical Manufacturing Technology Research Institute a.k.a. Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Institute 625	China
Beijing Computational Science Research Center a.k.a. Beijing Computing Science Research Center; CSRC	China
Beijing Institute of Technology	China
Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics a.k.a. Beihang University	China
Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications	China
Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research a.k.a. Beijing High Voltage Research Center	China
Changchun University of Science and Technology a.k.a. Changchun Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics	China
China Coast Guard Academy a.k.a. China Maritime Police Academy; People’s Armed Police China Coast Guard Academy; PAP China Coast Guard Academy	China
Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics a.k.a. Ninth Academy; Southwest Computing Center; Southwest Institute of Applied Electronics; Southwest Institute of Chemical Materials; Southwest Institute of Electronic Engineering; Southwest Institute of Environmental Testing; Southwest Institute of Explosives and Chemical Engineering; Southwest Institute of Fluid Physics; Southwest Institute of General Designing and Assembly; Southwest Institute of Machining Technology; Southwest Institute of Materials; Southwest Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry (a.k.a., China Academy of Engineering Physics’ 902 Institute); Southwest Institute of Research and Applications of Special Materials Factory; Southwest Institute of Structural Mechanics; The High Power Laser Laboratory, Shanghai; The Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing; 901 Institute	China
Chinese Academy of Sciences – Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics	China
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) – Institute of Computing Technology (ICT) a.k.a. Institute of Computing Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences; Institute of Computing Technology; CAS ICT; ICT CAS	China
Chinese Academy of Sciences– Institute of Physics	China
Chinese Academy of Sciences – Key Laboratory for Quantum Information	China
Chinese Academy of Sciences – Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology	China
Chinese Academy of Sciences – Shenyang Institute of Automation	China
Chongqing University	China
Dalian Naval Academy	China
Dalian University of Technology	China
Defense S&T Key Laboratory of Antennas and Microwave Technology at Xidian University a.k.a. National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Antennas and Microwaves; (Xidian) Antenna Institute; Key Laboratory of Antenna and Microwave Technology; National Key Laboratory of Antenna and Microwave Technology; Antennas and Microwave Technology Key Laboratory of National Defense; Defense S&T Key Laboratory of Antennas and Microwave Technology; Science and Technology on Antenna and Microwave Laboratory; State Key Laboratory of Antennas and Microwave Technology; National Laboratory of Antennas and Microwave Technology; National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Antenna and Microwave	China
Defense S&T Key Laboratory of Electronic Measurement Technology at North University of China a.k.a. Defense S&T Key Laboratory of Signal Detection; Key Laboratory of Signal Detection; National Key Laboratory for Electronic Measurement Technology; National Key Laboratory for Electronic Measurement Technology; State Key Laboratory for Electronic Measurement Technology; Key Laboratory for Electronic Measurement Technology; Defense Key Laboratory for Electronic Measurement Technology; China Electronics Technology Instruments Co., Ltd (CETI) Key Laboratory for Electronic Measurement Technology; CETI 41st RI Key Laboratory for Electronic Measurement Technology; North University of China Key Laboratory for Electronic Measurement Technology; North University of China School of Instrument and Electronics Key Laboratory for Electronic Measurement Technology; North University of China School of Electronics and Computer Science & Technology Key Laboratory for Electronic Measurement Technology	China
Defense S&T Key Laboratory of High-Power Semiconductor Lasers at Changchun University of Science and Technology a.k.a. State Key Laboratory of High Power Semiconductor Laser of Changchun University of Science and Technology; State Key Laboratory on High-Power Semiconductor Lasers; National Key Laboratory on High Power Semiconductor Laser; Key Laboratory on High Power Semiconductor Laser; Defense Key Laboratory on High Power Semiconductor Laser	China
Defense S&T Key Laboratory of Lightweight, High-strength Structural Materials at Central South University a.k.a. State Key Laboratory for Light Weight and High Strength Structural Materials; (Central South University) National Key Laboratory for High-strength Structural Materials; National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology for National Defence on High-strength Structural Materials; National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology for National Defence on High-strength Lightweight Structural Materials; Key Laboratory on High-strength Lightweight Structural Materials	China
Defense S&T Key Laboratory of Multi-spectral Information Processing Technology at Huazhong University of S&T a.k.a. National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Multi-spectral Information Processing; National Key Laboratory of Multi-spectral Information Processing Technology; State Key Laboratory for Multispectral Information Processing Technologies	China
Defense S&T Key Laboratory of Radar Signal Processing at Xidian University a.k.a. National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Radar Signal Processing; National Lab of Radar Signal Processing; Xidian Electronics Research Institute; National Key Laboratory of Radar Signal Processing; Key Laboratory for Radar Signal Processing; State Laboratory of Radar Signal Processing; National Laboratory of Radar Signal Processing	China
Federal Autonomous Institution Central Institute of Engine-Building N.A. P.I. Baranov a.k.a. Central Institute of Aviation Motors; CIAM	Russia
Federal Research Center Boreskov Institute of Catalysis	Russia
Federal State Budgetary Institute A.V. Zhirmunskiy National Scientific Research Center of Marine Biology, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences	Russia
Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry named after Academicians M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov, Russian Academy of Sciences	Russia
Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science Federal Research Center Pushchino Scientific Center for Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences	Russia
Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences	Russia
Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science P.I.K.A. Valiev RAS of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia a.k.a. FTIAN IM K.A.Valiev RAS; FTI RAS; FTIAN	Russia
Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Research and Production Complex Technology Center a.k.a. Federalnoe Gosudarstvennoe Byudzhetnoe Nauchnoe Uchrezhdenie Nauchno-Proizvodstvenny Kompleks Tekhnologicheskiy Tsentr - NPK Technological Center; NPKTS; Scientific Manufacturing Complex Technological Center; SMC Technological Center	Russia
Federal State Institution Federal Scientific Center Scientific Research Institute for System Analysis of the Russian Academy of Sciences a.k.a. Federalnoe Gosudarstvennoe Uchrezhdenie Federalnyy Nauchnyy Tsentr Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Institut Sistemnykh Issledovaniy Rossiyskoy Akademii Nauk; FGU FNTS NIISI RAN; FSI FSC SRISA RAS; Scientific Research Institute of System Analysis, Russian Academy of Sciences	Russia
Federal State Unitary Enterprise All-Russian Research Institute of Physical, Technical and Radio Engineering Measurements a.k.a.; VNIIFTRI	Russia
Federal State Unitary Enterprise Central Scientific Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics a.k.a. CNIIHM; Federalnoe Gosudarstvennoe Unitarnoe Predpriyatie Tsentralny Nauchno-Issledovatelski Institut Khimii I Mekhaniki; FGUP CNIIXM; FGUP TSNIIKHM; FSUE CNIIHM; FSUE TSNIIKHM; GNTS RF FGUP TSNIIKHM; State Research Center of the Russian Federation FGUP Central Scientific Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics; Tsentralny Naucho-Issledovatelsky Institut Khimii I Mekhaniki, FGUP; TSNIIKHM	Russia
Guilin University of Electronic Technology	China
Harbin Engineering University	China
Harbin Institute of Technology	China
Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale	China
Information Engineering University	China
Institute of High Energy Physics a.k.a. Kurchatovskiy Institute ITEF	Russia
Institute of Physics Named After P.N. Lebedev of the Russian Academy of Sciences a.k.a. Lebedev Physical Institute; LPI RAS; FIAN	Russia
Institute of Solid-State Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences a.k.a. Institute of Solid-State Physics of the Academy of Sciences SSSR; Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science Institute of Solid-State Physics N.A. Yu. A. Osipyan of the Russian Academy of Sciences	Russia
Imam Hussein University a.k.a. Imam Hossein University; IHU; Imam Hussein University of the Revolutionary Guards	Iran
Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences a.k.a. Federalnoe Gosudarstvennoe Uchrezhdenie Federalny Issledovatelski Tsentr Institut Prikladnoi Metematiki I.M. Keldysha Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk; IPM IM. M.V. Keldisha RAN; KIAM RAS	Russia
Key Laboratory of Information Systems Engineering a.k.a. KLISE	China
Lomonosov Moscow State University	Russia
Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology a.k.a. Luoyang Institute of Technology	China
Mabna Institute	Iran
Moscow Aviation Institute a.k.a. MAI	Russia
Moscow’s Higher School of Economics	Russia
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology a.k.a. MFTI	Russia
Moscow Order of the Red Banner of Labor Research Radio Engineering Institute JSC a.k.a. MNIRTI JSC	Russia
Moscow State University	Russia
Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology a.k.a. NIAOT	China
Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics	China
Nanjing University of Science and Technology	China
National Defense University	China
National University of Defense Technology a.k.a. Central South CAD Center; CSCC; Hunan Guofang Keji University	China
Naval Aviation University	China
Naval Command College	China
Naval Engineering University	China
Naval Medical University	China
Naval NCO School	China
Naval Service Academy	China
Navy Submarine Academy	China
North University of China	China
Northwestern Polytechnical University a.k.a. Northwestern Polytechnic University; Northwest Polytechnic University; Northwest Polytechnical University	China
Ocean University of China	China
Rocket Force Command College	China
Rocket Force Engineering University	China
Rocket Force NCO School	China
Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences a.k.a. IPP SB RAS; Institute of Semiconductor Physics IM A.V. Rzhanov	Russia
Sharif University of Technology a.k.a. Arya Mehr University of Technology; SHFT; SUT; Sharif Technical University	Iran
Shenyang Ligong University	China
Siberian Scientific-Research Institute of Aviation N.A. S.A. Chaplygin a.k.a. SibNIA	Russia
Sichuan University	China
Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology a.k.a. Autonomous Non-Profit Organization for Higher Education Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology; Skolkovskiy Institut Nauki I Tekhnologii; Skoltech	Russia
Space Engineering University	China
Sun Yat-Sen University	China
Tactical Missile Corporation, Concern “MPO—Gidropribor” a.k.a. Joint Stock Company Concern Sea Underwater Weapons Gidropribor; Research Institute “Gidpropridor”	Russia
Tactical Missile Corporation, Joint Stock Company GosNIIMash a.k.a. PPORosprofprom V “GOSNIIMASH”; State Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering; Pervichnaya Profsoyuznaya Organizatsiya Rossiskogo Profsoyuza Rabotnikov Promyshlennosti V; “GOSNIIMASH”; Joint Stock Company “State Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering” named after V.V.Bakhirev”; SKB DNIKhTI	Russia
Tianjin University	China
Center for International Security and Strategy (affiliated with Tsinghua University)	China
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China	China
University of Science and Technology of China	China
Ural Federal University Named After First President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin a.k.a. UrFu	Russia
Xi’an Jiatong University	China
Xi’an Technological University	China

Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professorship

Hundred Talents Plan

Pearl River Talent Program

River Talents Plan

Project 5-100

Thousand Talents Plan

Any program that meets one of the criteria contained in Section 10638(4)(A) and either Section 10638(4)(B)(i) or (ii) in the CHIPS and Science Act

Section 10638(4)(A)- Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program definition
Section 10638(4)(B)(i)- a foreign country of concern or an entity based in a foreign country of concern, whether or not directly sponsored by the foreign country of concern
- People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau)
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
- Russian Federation
- Islamic Republic of Iran
- Any other country determined to be a country of concern by the Secretary of State
Section 10638(4)(B)(ii)- an academic institution on the list developed under section 1286(c)(8) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (10 U.S.C. 2358 note; Public Law 115-232)- see left column

KR Federal Disclosure and Certification

The third question of the KR Federal Disclosure and Certification form relates to malign foreign talent recruitment program certification which senior/key personnel must provide. All "Yes" and "I don't know" responses will be referred to the RSIE team for review and resolution prior to proposal submission.

Are you a party to a malign foreign talent recruitment program?

A malign foreign talent recruitment program includes

(A) any program, position, or activity with cash and in-kind compensation from a foreign country at any level or their designee to an individual in exchange for engaging in certain malign activities including but not limited to the unauthorized transfer of intellectual property, materials, data, products or other nonpublic information owned by a US entity or developed with a US federal research and development award to a foreign country or entity and being required to not disclose to the Federal research agency or employing institution participation in the program, position, or activity AND

(B) is sponsored by a foreign country of concern (China including Hong Kong and Macau, North Korea, Russia, and Iran), listed academic institution, or the below listed malign foreign talent recruitment programs. See full definition including lists of malign activities and academic institutions identified by the federal government as of concern at If you have any questions or request additional guidance, please contact or-rsie@uci.edu.

Examples of Federally recognized malign foreign talent recruitment programs include but are not limited to:

- Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professorship
- Hundred Talents Plan
- Pearl River Talent Plan
- River Talents Plan
- Project 5-100
- Thousand Talents Plan

Foreign Talent Recruitment Program

KR Federal Disclosure and Certification

Federal Sponsors with Malign FTRP Prohibitions

Key Terms

US Federal Government List of Institutions of People's Republic of China, Russian Federation, and other Countries with Specified Characteristics: Section 1286(c)(8)

US Federal Government List of Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs: Section 1286(c)(9)

Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professorship

Hundred Talents Plan

Pearl River Talent Program

River Talents Plan

Project 5-100

Thousand Talents Plan

Any program that meets one of the criteria contained in Section 10638(4)(A) and either Section 10638(4)(B)(i) or (ii) in the CHIPS and Science Act

KR Federal Disclosure and Certification

Are you a party to a malign foreign talent recruitment program?

Resources for Federal Requirements

UC Conflict of Commitment Resources