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
USDA MFTRP 10 Years Certification (coming soon)
Key Terms
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.
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)- go to Section 1286(c)(8) Academic Institutions; 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)- go to Section 1286(c)(9) Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs.
- Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professorship
- Hundred Talents Plan
- Pearl River Talent Program
- Project 5-100
- River Talents Plan
- Thousand Talents Plan
- Any other program that meets the criteria contained in Section 10638(4) of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022
(Public Law 117-167)
KR Federal Disclosure and Certification
This question in 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(opens in new tab)?
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:
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- Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professorship
- Hundred Talents Plan
- Pearl River Talent Plan
- River Talents Plan
- Project 5-100
- Thousand Talents Plan