The National Science Foundation (NSF) contributes to our nation’s economic strength and national security through basic research. The Foundation is committed to sustaining the United States’ position as a global innovation leader. The values that have driven NSF and its global research partners for decades are openness, transparency, and reciprocal collaboration; these are essential for advancing the frontiers of knowledge.
Our science and engineering enterprise, however, is put at risk when other governments endeavor to benefit from the global research ecosystem without upholding these values. Faced with such a risk, NSF is responding with the following actions:
- NSF has long required researchers to disclose all other sources of support, both foreign and domestic, and we are working to create a streamlined process to improve the reporting of that support. A clarification of our policy guidance for researchers on requirements to disclose foreign and domestic support is out for public comment right now to ensure researchers understand these requirements.
- NSF wants to ensure expert input into issues related to open science and the security of science. Thus, the agency has commissioned the JASON advisory group to conduct a study this summer with a final report likely by the end of the calendar year. This study will recommend ways for NSF to better protect its merit review system and for grantee institutions to maintain balance between openness and security of scientific research.
- NSF has also issued a policy stating that personnel employed at and IPAs detailed to NSF may not participate in foreign government talent recruitment programs that may jeopardize the integrity of NSF’s mission and operations.
