International Engagements in eRPM

International engagements in sponsored projects refer to collaborative activities, partnerships and projects involving researchers, institutions or entities across national borders. International engagements include, but are not limited to: 

• Appointments at, and affiliations with, foreign institutions (paid and unpaid)
• Foreign sources of other support (monetary and non-monetary)
• Visitors from foreign institutions
• Consulting/advising for a foreign institution

The following provides more information on disclosing international engagements for sponsored projects

PAF Questions 2a-2d on international engagements

Questions 2a through 2d of the Sign PAF and Sign Award Record activities in the eResearch Proposal Management (eRPM) system address the project investigators’ individual international engagements.

The Sign PAF and Sign Award Record activities include questions regarding international engagements. As stated there,  “The full and transparent disclosure of your international engagement is critical, especially as it relates to: (i) participation in a foreign government talent recruitment program, (ii) holding an appointment or affiliation with a foreign entity/institution, and (iii) receiving resources from a foreign entity that support or are related to any of your research endeavors.”

Staff in ORSP and the Conflict of Interest (COI) offices use the information provided by investigators in the eRPM “Sign PAF” activity to complete an “Other Support” congruence review with sponsor-required documentation such as “Biosketches” and “Current & Pending (Other) Support.”

How to answer questions 2a-2d in eRPM

Below are the international engagement questions that appear in the eRPM “Sign PAF” and “Sign Award Record” activities, along with some useful guidance when answering these questions.

The information entered in the eRPM “Sign PAF” and “Sign Award Record” activities may also need to be included in Current & Pending Support or Other Support documentation for the sponsor and in M-Inform disclosures (questions 2a-2c only). 

2a. Do you participate in a foreign government talent recruitment program?

The White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) states:

A foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment program is an effort directly or indirectly organized, managed, or funded by a foreign government to recruit science and technology professionals or students (regardless of citizenship or national origin).

• Many countries sponsor talent recruitment programs for legitimate purposes of attracting researchers in targeted fields
• Many programs utilize legitimate means of attracting talent, including offering research fellowships and grants to incentivize researchers to physically relocate
• However, some programs encourage or direct unethical and criminal behaviors
• Contracts for participation in some programs, including some sponsored by the Chinese government, include language that creates conflicts of commitment and/or conflicts of interest for researchers
  • Requirements to attribute awards, patents and projects to the foreign institution, even if conducted under U.S. funding
  • Requirements to recruit or train other talent recruitment plan members, circumventing merit-based processes
  • Requirements to replicate or transfer U.S.-funded work in another country.  

Transparency and full disclosure are essential to properly assess risks.

U-M has a Policy Prohibiting Participation in Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs consistent with federal requirements. Learn more about assessing and managing international collaborations in research in the International Engagements page from the Office of the Vice President for Research.

2b. Do you currently have any affiliations outside U-M with a foreign entity/institution? These include, but are not limited to:

• Academic, scientific, professional, or institutional appointments
  • Whether or not remuneration is received, and
  • Whether full-time, part-time, or voluntary (including adjunct, visiting, or honorary)
  • Employment or consulting agreements?

See the NSPM-33 Implementation Guidance hosted by the NSF for definitions: https://www.nsf.gov/policies/nspm-33/definitions#page=2

See the U-M Current and Pending (Other) Support website for information on specific sponsor disclosure requirements: https://orsp.umich.edu/develop-proposal/current-and-pending-other-support-reporting

2c. Has a foreign entity provided you any monetary resources that support or are related to any of your research endeavors (with the exception of grants, contracts, or gifts awarded/given to U-M)? 

When answering question 2c in the “Sign PAF” activity, U-M Investigators do not need to include grants, contracts or gifts awarded/given to U-M.

2d. Has a foreign entity provided  you with any non-monetary resources (e.g., equipment, materials, personnel) that support or are related to any of your current research endeavors?

When answering question 2d in the “Sign PAF” activity, U-M Investigators do not need to include non-monetary resources arranged through U-M as Unfunded Agreements (e.g., material transfer agreements, data use agreements) or resources acquired through U-M Procurement processes (e.g., purchase order).