Foreign Influence Working Group (FIWG)

Purpose

Created in 2019, this Working Group focuses on and acts as the key point of contact related to this emerging and evolving topic; how it is affecting the FDP member organizations; activities that FDP could undertake; assisting in keeping members updated as well as providing a forum for discussions with federal representatives; developing and implementing demonstrations/pilots with federal partners. This group includes a cross section of representatives from each of the FDP programmatic areas plus a small number of at-large members.

Responsibilities

• In conjunction with the FDP Executive Committee, assumes lead role in coordinating across FDP committees and with Federal Partners on foreign influence related initiatives and topics.
• Ensures the goals of FDP foreign influence related pilots and initiatives align with institutional and federal partner priorities and needs, and properly leverage the partnership via the following guiding principles: Effective Practices – development, demonstration, & sharing of effective practices to the community. Collaboration to Reduce Burden and Increase Effectiveness – multi-directional collaboration throughout implementation from/to Federal Partners and research institutions. Feedback – ability to directly get feedback from diverse institutions (large/small, public/private, higher education/research institutes, ERIs, and HBCUs) and faculty.

Current Activities & Initiatives

• Discuss potential pilots arising from Listening Sessions #1 and 2, including:
  • Pilot #1: Create best practices for the implementation of the Research Security Standards
  • Pilot #2: Continue Development, Testing, and Deployment of the Matrix for Assessment of Risk and Transparency Tool (MART)
  • Pilot #3: Assessment and Quantification of Researcher Use and Management of SciENcv for Biosketch and Current and Pending/Other Support Forms (SciENcv)
• Explore other potential initiatives/activities, for example:
  • Complete white paper on Cybersecurity/Export Controls
  • Develop guidance and provide support for institutions not formally subject to the Research Security Standard, such as HBCUs, ERIs, and MSI’s

Recent Accomplishments

Listening Session #2 with NSTC Research Security Subcommittee, June 13, 2023
Other NSPM Potential Pilots and Demos, June 13, 2023 (slide deck)

• White Paper: Matrix for Assessment of Risk and Transparency Tool (MART), June 9, 2023
• White Paper: SciENcv (June 9, 2023)

Listening Session #1 with NSTC Research Security Subcommittee, May 18, 2023
“Implementation of the Research Security Standards”, slide deck

• White Paper: Draft Research Security Standards; Foreign Travel, Training, Risk Assessment, and Institutional Considerations

National Security Council Meeting, June 14, 2022

Jim Luther and Pamela Webb, representing FDP, were invited to participate in a meeting on Foreign Malign Influence and Higher Education. This was a discussion for the Committee to learn more about awareness of malign foreign influences at institutions of higher education, and opportunities for how to best engage on the topic.

OSTP Engagement Hours, February 28, 2022

• FDP Evaluation and Feedback on NSPM-33 Implementation Guidance
• Evaluation of NSPM-33 Implementation Guidance, Summary Doc
• FDP NSPM-33 Memo to OSTP

FDP Meeting Presentations to the Community, Ongoing

• “NSPM-33, CHIPS, and Research Security”, May 25, 2023
• “___”, January 24, 2023
• “Science & Security: Connecting the Dots One Year Later, A Panel Discussion with Federal Partners”, September 14, 2022
• “NSPM-33 Update”, May 14, 2022
• “Release of NSPM-33 Guidance, Guidance for Implementing National Security Presidential Memorandum 33”, January 13, 2022
• “Foreign Influence Working Group Key Updates”, January 12, 2022
• “Science and Security, Latest Developments in Managing Improper Foreign Influence”, September 22, 2021
• “Plenary on Foreign Influence, University Panel”, May 27, 2021
• “Foreign Influence, Management of Improper Influence, Enhancing the Security and Integrity of America’s Research Enterprise Description or (Video)”, May 26, 2021
• “Foreign Influence Management, Enhancing the Security and Integrity of America’s Research Enterprise”, January 12, 2021

Committee Name Committee Chairs

Jim Luther (Co-chair), Yale University/FDP
Pamela Webb (Co-chair), University of Minnesota
Doug Backman, University of Central Florida
Lori Schultz, University of Arizona
Michele Masucci, University of Maryland System
Susan Anderson, College of Charleston
Robin Cyr, Northeastern University
Pamela Caudill, Yale University
Kim Moreland, University of Wisconsin
Lynette Arias, University of Washington
Melissa Korf, Harvard University
Alex Albinak, Johns Hopkins University
Mark Sweet, University of Wisconsin
Alice Young, Texas Tech University
Laura McCabe, Michigan State University
Amanda Humphrey, Northeastern University
Shandra White, University of Michigan