H.R. 8558: To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to require each institution of higher education to certify as part of an application for a research and development award that such institution does not operate certain branch campuses, and for other purposes.

This bill proposes changes to the existing Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act. Specifically, it aims to require institutions of higher education to certify that they do not operate branch campuses in certain countries when applying for federal research and development awards.

Key Provisions

• Certification Requirement: Affected institutions must provide a certification as part of their application, confirming they do not have branch campuses in specific nations.
• Countries of Concern: The bill identifies a list of countries where branch campuses are not allowed. These include:
  • Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
  • Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)
  • Islamic Republic of Iran
  • People’s Republic of China
  • Republic of Cuba
  • Republic of Turkey
  • Russian Federation
  • State of Qatar
  • Any other country deemed appropriate by the Secretary of State
• Definition of Branch Campus: The bill provides a definition for a branch campus, stating it must be:
  • Permanently established
  • Offering courses leading to a degree, certificate, or other educational credential
  • Have specific faculty and administration
  • Possess budgetary and hiring authority

Implementation Timeline

Federal research agencies must implement this requirement within two years after the bill is enacted.

By imposing these certification requirements, the bill aims to enhance research security concerning sensitive technologies and information that might arise from international partnerships or collaborations.

Clerical Amendments

The bill also includes various clerical amendments to the existing law to incorporate the new section regarding research security requirements.

Relevant Companies

• BYD Co. Ltd. (BYDDF) - As a significant player in the electric vehicle market with international collaborations, BYD might face constraints on research funding or collaborations with U.S. research institutions.
• Tencent Holdings Limited (TTECH) - Given its involvement in technology and gaming, Tencent could be impacted due to restrictions on partnerships with U.S. educational institutions.
• NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) - With close ties to academic research for AI and computing architectures, NVIDIA could see a decrease in collaborative funding opportunities if educational institutions are barred from engaging with it.