Export Controls

Federal laws restrict exports of goods, technology, and technical data both outside the U.S. and to foreign nationals within the U.S. The federal government has increased its scrutiny of export control compliance due to concerns about homeland security, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, and unauthorized releases of technology to U.S. economic competitors.

Fundamental research (basic or applied research in science and/or engineering at an accredited institution of higher learning in the U.S. resulting in information that is ordinarily published and shared broadly within the scientific community) is excluded from export controls regulations; however, this refers to information and not to controlled items themselves nor their technical data (e.g., instructions, blueprints, etc.). Fundamental research does not apply to research that accepts restrictions on publications or dissemination controls by the sponsor. UCSC personnel must know when to contact the Export Control office to see if they must take additional actions to comply with export control laws.

Export control regulations may affect certain activities such as:

  • Shipment of items, including data, outside of the U.S.
  • Travel to certain sanctioned or embargoed countries for purposes of teaching or performing research* 
  • Collaborations outside of the U.S., especially sanctioned countries (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan)
  • Restricting data within a materials transfer agreement
  • Creating controlled items or technology
  • Receipt of controlled items for use on campus

Please note the export compliance basics:

  • Prior to shipping research equipment or materials out of the country, contact the export control officer in ORCA to determine whether an export license is required.
  • Publish research results in a timely manner through one of the means that qualifies as "publicly available" or "in the public domain."  Consult with your technology transfer or patent office if the data concerns a patentable invention.
  • Do not accept restrictions on access to or dissemination of information.
  • Do not provide citizenship, nationality, or visa status information to project sponsors or other third parties, or agree to background checks for project participants.
  • Do not attend meetings from which foreign nationals are barred.