Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act

Key Points

• The bill bans anyone receiving federal research funding from collaborating with foreign entities or individuals on official U.S. government restricted lists. This covers grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and any other form of federal financial assistance.
• The definition of 'research collaboration' is very broad, covering joint research projects, co-authoring papers, sharing data or equipment, running joint labs, and exchanging students or researchers. This would significantly limit how U.S. researchers interact with certain foreign partners.
• Agency heads can grant case-by-case waivers if the collaboration is needed for national security or if it serves a scientific or public health purpose that cannot be achieved otherwise. Every waiver must be reported to Congress within 30 days.
• The bill references over a dozen specific restricted entity lists, many of which target Chinese military companies, telecom firms, semiconductor makers, and entities linked to the Uyghur forced labor system. It also includes a catch-all allowing future lists designated by the President or key Cabinet secretaries.
• The Office of Science and Technology Policy is tasked with issuing government-wide guidance to make sure all federal agencies apply the rules in a consistent way, with standardized definitions and enforcement.