MIT has a long history of engaging in international activities. International engagements generally take considerable time and require review and risk assessment by multiple MIT central teams and departments. Give your RAS CA advance notice of your plans, so they can address individual circumstances or refer you to other relevant MIT resources.
Risk Assessment of International Engagements
DLCIs must complete an initial review of sponsor information and be alert to places where terms differ from how U.S. industry and universities typically transact business.
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Concerns that have led to delays or unexpected expenses during international projects include:
- Contracting challenges due to sponsor expectations, including but not limited to differences related to publication or intellectual property.
- Excessive administrative requirements, financial management and reporting outside MIT central office processes, requiring additional DLCI resources
- Dean’s Office approval may be required due to risk of disallowed costs
- Sponsor requirements changing without notice during the life of the project
- Exchange rate calculations and process or resource used to determine rate
- Time sheet requirements
- Different definitions for language, such as pre-proposals, equipment or budget categories
- Requirement to engage a third-party translation firm to translate agreements into English and/or another language
- Applicable terms not included in agreement, but must be found through links or websites
- Merged funding opportunities that involve collaborations in multiple countries or multiple international sponsors
RAS needs to assess MIT’s ability to participate in any international engagement. If greater than normal risk is identified, RAS may require a meeting with the RAS International Liaison and the DLCI’s dean or other leadership.
Initially, to avoid significant delays, provide your RAS CA with:
- Direct and prime funding source
- Collaborators
- Copy of funding opportunity (in English)
- MIT SOW and overall SOW if a larger collaboration
- Any known terms and conditions, such as sample agreements or sponsor guidelines
- Anticipated subawards. Terms and conditions may prove challenging or too high a risk for MIT to serve as a pass-through entity. The subawards team (subawards@mit.edu) should be consulted early on.
International Project Roadmap and Additional Review
The International Project Roadmap provides procedural steps in completing agreements to conduct international projects or activities. Global Support Resources provides other administrative resources.
Specific reviews may be required or requested from other offices and teams:
- Elevated-risk project review: Required for certain engagements, including engagements with a person or entity from China, Russia, or Saudi Arabia.
- International tax, finance, or accounting: Contact VPF Global Operations. Activities outside of the U.S. or funding from foreign countries may trigger additional tax or reporting requirements.
- Export control: Contact MIT Export Control.
- Research security: Contact Research Compliance (research-compliance-help@mit.edu) and review Foreign Engagement resources.
- Projects with visiting researchers, faculty or lecturers: Contact the International Scholars Office.
- Intellectual property: Contact OSATT.
- Negotiation of international projects: Negotiation may involve multiple offices, including OSATT, the Office of the General Counsel, and TLO.
Examples of International Activities at MIT
MIT has a long history of engaging in international activities. Global MIT provides general information about a variety of international research and educational initiatives.