Export Control

Federal law restricts the export of goods (such as physical items), technology, technical data, and proprietary data, both when transferred 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. Export controls govern the shipment, transmission, or transfer of such regulated items, information, and software to foreign countries, persons, or entities.

Export control regulations may apply to 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 in countries of concern (particularly Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Crimea).
  • Restricting data within a material transfer agreement.
  • Creating controlled items or technology.
  • Receipt of controlled items for use on campus.

Fundamental research

Fundamental research is defined as “basic and applied research in science and engineering where the resulting information is to be shared broadly within the scientific community, as distinguished from proprietary research and from industrial development, design, production, and product utilization, the results of which ordinarily are restricted for proprietary or national security reasons.”

UC Santa Cruz is a fundamental research research institution, which remains key to maintaining an environment of openness in an academic setting.

Because of the fundamental research exclusion, export controls rarely apply to the conduct and results of research activity at UC Santa Cruz. However, research materials may still be subject to export controls, including tangible products (other than software) of fundamental research, such as prototypes; encryption software; and some tools, software, and data needed to perform the research.

The fundamental research exclusion does not apply to research awards that include restrictions on publications, dissemination of information, or limitations on the participation of researchers on the basis of citizenship. If such restrictions are included, contact the Export Control office to see if additional actions are required to comply with export control laws.

In order to maintain fundamental research status, researchers are encouraged to publish research results in a timely manner through means that qualify as “publicly available” or “in the public domain.” Consult with your technology transfer or patent office by emailing innovation@ucsc.edu if the data concerns a patentable invention.

Export control basics

Export compliance considerations

Resources

Last modified: Jun 18, 2025