Receiving Gifts from Foreign Entities

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What is the Risk?

Gifts or other forms of in-kind support could potentially become a vehicle for foreign influence, to the extent that there are “soft deliverables” involved – i.e., informal, informational exchange opportunities with the donor concerning research results associated with the gift. Recent foreign influence cases at other research institutions have also illuminated the connection between internationally based resources extended to U.S. Principal Investigators (PI) (e.g., laboratory resources or student research support coming from a foreign institution) and potential errors and/or omissions in required Conflict of Interest and Commitment reporting. Both Federal and State Law require biannual reporting of Gifts and Agreements with a Foreign source that meet a certain threshold.