Department of War updates list of foreign institutions flagged over unauthorized tech transfer

The Department of War today announced the Fiscal Year 2025 update to its Section 1286 list, a roster of foreign academic and research institutions identified as engaging in problematic activities under the FY19 National Defense Authorization Act. The update names 130 institutions in China, Russia, and Iran.

Officials said the list is intended to highlight and counter unauthorized technology transfer to countries of concern, citing risks that U.S. government-funded research and development could be misappropriated in ways that enable adversarial government interference, threatening national security and scientific integrity.

“The Department of War is strengthening its commitment to protect taxpayer-funded research and preserving the integrity of the American scientific enterprise,” said Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering.

The department advised domestic researchers, academic institutions, and industry partners to exercise strict caution when considering collaborations, funding arrangements, or data-sharing with any organization on the list. The guidance aligns with recent directives from the Under Secretary establishing stricter requirements to protect fundamental research from malign foreign influence and intellectual property theft.

The department said it will continue updating the Section 1286 list at least annually, or as appropriate, based on evolving intelligence and threat assessments. The FY25 list is available on the department’s website.