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)- coming October 31, 2024
Key Terms
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:
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- Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professorship
- Hundred Talents Plan
- Pearl River Talent Plan
- River Talents Plan
- Project 5-100
- Thousand Talents Plan