Conference Considerations

Attending and presenting at international conference can trigger export control considerations.  Generally, presentations of published research or publicly available information do not raise export control concerns.  However, sharing proprietary, classified, or unpublished data, especially technical data related to controlled technologies, requires careful attention to regulations.  It is important to understand what information is being shared, with whom, and the potential implications under export control laws.

Sharing Information

Information that has been made available to the public through dissemination during an open conference, meeting, seminar, trade show, or exhibition is excluded from export control regulations under the public domain exclusion. However, attendees should not share information that was not generated by the researcher during the course of a fundamental research project, including confidential information shared by the sponsor of a research project. 

Sanctioned Countries

Attending conferences in  may require a United States government license since the government considers this to be ‘providing a service’ in the sanctioned country.

Defense Services

Furnishing assistance (including training) to foreign persons, whether in the United States or abroad, in the design, modification, operation, or use of defense articles is a defense service. A defense service can include providing assistance through the use of public domain information. For example, providing the Turkish Ministry of National Defense with assistance on improving the fuel efficiency of battle tanks would be a defense service, even if the assistance was provided exclusively through the use of public domain information.

When hosting a conference, SMU personnel should consider the following:

Sharing Information

Research results generated during the course of a  may be shared freely.  However, other types of information may be subject to export controls and should not be shared:

  • Information that is subject to approval by the sponsor of a research project (and therefore does not qualify as fundamental research)
  • Confidential information provided to SMU by the sponsor of a research project
  •  related to items or equipment

Restricted Parties

Individuals designated as a  may be prohibited from participating in a conference, depending upon the reason for debarment.

Sanctions

Sanctions regulations may prohibit sharing certain information unless that information is in the public domain.