UCI is committed to complying with U.S. export control regulations. To fulfil this commitment as a premier research university, we have an export control program designed to support and facilitate our faculty’s scholarly and creative activities while promoting compliance with U.S. export controls.
Federal export controls regulate technologies that are taken or sent to other countries or imparted to foreign nationals working in the U.S. These controls are intended to protect U.S. economic interests and national security. Failure to obtain an export license when required could result in fines of $250,000 to $1 million per violation and prison time for criminal convictions.
Because violations of U.S. export control regulations can result in personal and institutional liability, the Office of Research has created multiple resources to help inform and empower the campus community: export control decision tree, export control videos, international shipping tools, sanctioned country guidance, international travel guidance and an export control briefing. These resources and tools are intended to help members of the campus community address potential issues and help them identify when their activities are exempt from export control regulations.
Typical university transactions or activities can or may have export control implications, including:
- Collaborating with a foreign institution, person or entity
- Receiving controlled data, materials or research samples
- Sponsored research awards which include publication restrictions
- Foreign nationals’ access to controlled items or information
- Shipping or hand-carrying equipment, items, samples or controlled data internationally
- Transactions involving sanctioned countries such as Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria
In order to ensure compliance with export controls, it is critically important for university personnel to identify when their activities may trigger export controls. You don’t have to become an expert, but you need to have a fundamental understanding of the subject to be able to know when to raise questions and alert the University to a possible export controls issue. If you have questions, need advice, or require an export control review, contact Marci Copeland, Export Control Officer at m.copeland@uci.edu or Nancy Lewis, Director of Sponsored Projects Administration at nrlewis@uci.edu.
Sincerely,
Pramod Khargonekar, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for Research
Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science