Grant Considerations for International Research 

Adapted with permission from University of Wisconsin-Madison

Guidance about Relationships with Foreign Entities:

Federal funding agencies have an expectation that investigators are open and transparent about all outside appointments with foreign entities. It does not matter if these appointments are compensated or not. They must be disclosed on Other Support/Current and Pending Support, progress reports, or by other means as required by the sponsor.

If you have or are planning to apply for federal funding, there are several important things to remember. Federal agencies are especially concerned about outside appointments with foreign entities, and it is critical you take the actions described below. Federal agencies’ guidance continues to evolve, so please pay close attention to individual agency instructions.

Sponsored Research Agreements

Faculty and staff participate in sponsored research projects that necessitate either funded or non-funded agreements to be negotiated with outside entities. Offices such as Sponsored Programs, Finance and Administration, and Office of Compliance, Risk, and Integrity review and negotiate these agreements to ensure that the interests of the PI, the University, and the State are all adequately protected and that the legal obligations of the agreement do not conflict with the University’s research mission or its policies.  Agreements should generate mutual benefit, set realistic expectations, and manage risks. Agreements which contain an export control clause, publication restriction, or personnel restriction should be reviewed carefully.  When researchers engage in sponsored projects with any entities, including foreign entities, they should be sure to:

• Initiate appropriate agreements between UW–Oshkosh and the outside institution by contacting Office of Sponsored Programs
• Obtain signatures by individuals authorized to sign on behalf of UW-Oshkosh
• Properly attribute UW–Oshkosh and the outside institution in publications resulting from sponsored projects

Other/Current and Pending Support

Federal agencies have made clear that they expect researchers to disclose all research support, including from foreign sources.

• Disclose your outside appointment on all Other Support/Current & Pending Support documents or progress reports
• Disclose and equipment or other resources provided to you as part of this appointment in the appropriate sections of your grant proposal or progress reports
• Disclose any foreign graduate students, post-docs, or other personnel working on your federally funded projects
• Carefully review specific requirements for each individual Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
• Specific agency guidance includes:
  • NIH: NOT-OD-19-114; Just-in-Time Procedures
  • NSF: NSF-Approved Formats for Current and Pending Support; Current and Pending Support
  • Dept. of Defense: Memorandum

Intellectual Property Disclosures

Researchers must disclose any inventions resulting from work performed as part of their University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh duties, using University funding, or using University premises, supplies, or equipment. All inventions discovered by faculty, staff, or students on appointment while pursuing their university duties, or on university premises, or with university supplies or equipment must be disclosed to WiSys.