Commitment to Export Controls Compliance

As the geopolitical landscape continues to change, the importance of understanding and complying with United States export controls regulations and other sanctions programs is paramount to the University’s continued ability to effectively manage international academic and research engagements.  The Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research understands that the continued success of our research enterprise depends on a shared stewardship of resources, policies, and compliance. 

The Office of Trade Compliance, which is part of the Office of Research Protections, has multiple resources, tools, and available training sessions to support the Pitt community in all of its international activities.  These resources are in place to assist Pitt researchers in understanding potential export control issues and to know when to seek advice through the Office of Trade Compliance to determine licensing requirements, obtain required licenses, and provide assistance with management of higher risk activities.

University activities that typically invoke export controls considerations include:

-Collaborations that involve a foreign institution, person, or entity;
-International shipments, including hand-carried items, that include export-controlled equipment, biological samples, or data;
-Receipt of export-controlled data, materials, or research samples under any formal or informal engagements;
-Research agreements that include publication or foreign national participation restrictions;
-Laboratory activities involving foreign national access to export-controlled items or information, or;
-Any transactions involving the following highly embargoed or sanctioned countries and regions: Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Syria, Russia, and the Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine.

Export control laws are in place to protect the national security, economic interests, and foreign policy objectives of the United States.  Compliance with these laws is a shared responsibility and violations of these laws can result in personal and institutional liability, including fines and imprisonment.  The University of Pittsburgh is committed to providing assistance to its researchers to comply with U.S. export control regulations.

Export controls training and other resources are available on the Office of Trade Compliance website, or by contacting them at: tradecompliance@pitt.edu.

Sincerely,

Rob A. Rutenbar, PhD
Senior Vice Chancellor for Research
Distinguished Professor of Computer Science
   & Electrical and Computer Engineering