New Federal Legislation Seeks to Tighten Safeguards on Foreign Research Collaborations

Michigan Congressman John Moolenaar, Chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, has introduced the Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act, legislation designed to strengthen protections around federally funded research collaborations involving foreign adversaries, particularly entities linked to China.  

The bill would expand government-wide restrictions on the use of federal research dollars by prohibiting partnerships with organizations and individuals that appear on U.S. government blacklists tied to national security concerns. 

The legislation reflects growing bipartisan concern in Washington over foreign influence in sensitive areas of scientific research and technology development. Over the past several years, federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Energy, and Department of Defense have increased scrutiny of international research partnerships amid fears that strategic technologies and intellectual property could be transferred to foreign governments through academic and commercial collaborations. 

For Michigan’s life sciences and research community, the proposed legislation underscores the increasing importance of research security and compliance oversight. Universities, research institutions, and biotechnology companies that receive federal funding may face additional due diligence requirements when entering international collaborations, particularly in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and semiconductor technologies. 

Supporters of the legislation argue that stronger safeguards are necessary to protect U.S. innovation, economic competitiveness, and national security. Critics, however, caution that overly broad restrictions could complicate international scientific collaboration and potentially slow the pace of global research partnerships that have historically accelerated discovery and innovation.

As federal policymakers continue to balance open scientific collaboration with national security priorities, the legislation signals a broader shift toward tighter oversight of federally funded research activities involving foreign entities.