Guidance on Fundamental Research

All Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Department of Energy funded research agreements are reviewed by the Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance due to the increased risk of intersection with export control and nationality restrictions.

Fundamental research is defined to mean basic and applied research in science and engineering where the resulting information is ordinarily published and shared broadly within the scientific community, as distinguished from research the results of which are restricted for proprietary reasons or specific U.S. Government access and dissemination controls. University research will not be considered fundamental research if:

1. The university or its researchers accept other restrictions on publication of scientific and technical information resulting from the project or activity, or
2. The research is funded by the U.S. Government and specific access and dissemination controls protecting information resulting from the research are applicable.

Accepting access and dissemination controls on the research results will void the ability to claim fundamental research and creates intersection with export controls. Export controlled research projects may require the establishment of a technology control plan, export control training for all project participants, and implementation of research security protocols to protect the research results from inadvertent disclosure to unauthorized personnel. It is recommended that faculty review the solicitation carefully for references to export controls, nationality restrictions, publication restrictions and security requirements.

If the research proposal should be considered fundamental research, insert the following language directly into the statement of work:

"Virginia Tech considers the proposed research to be fundamental research and anticipates there will be no restrictions on publication of scientific and technical information resulting from the project and no access and dissemination controls protecting information resulting from the research."