S. 4423: 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 aims to modify existing legislation regarding research and development awards for institutions of higher education. Specifically, it requires these institutions to certify that they do not operate branch campuses in certain countries before applying for federal research and development funding.

Key Provisions

• Certification Requirement: Institutions of higher education must include a certification in their applications for federal research grants, declaring that they do not have branch campuses in specific countries.
• Countries Listed: The countries from which institutions must certify their absence of branch campuses 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: A "branch campus" is defined as a unit of an institution that:
  • Is permanently established and geographically separate from the main campus
  • Offers courses leading to degrees or other educational credentials
  • Has dedicated faculty and administration for the unit
  • Possesses budgetary and hiring authority
• Implementation Timeline: Federal research agencies will have two years from the enactment of this bill to enforce this certification requirement for research and development awards.

Purpose

The bill is designed to enhance research security by ensuring that federal funds are not indirectly supporting branch campuses in countries considered to be adversarial to U.S. interests. The intent is to protect U.S. intellectual property and sensitive research areas from potential foreign influence or espionage.

Impact on Higher Education Institutions

Institutions seeking federal funding for research and development will need to assess their international operations and possibly restructure or close branch campuses existing in the countries listed to comply with the certification requirement. This may also affect their ability to win grants or funding from federal agencies.

Relevant Companies

None found