Cybersecurity News – The Department of War has released its updated Fiscal Year 2025 list identifying foreign academic and research institutions considered to pose a risk to U.S. national security through unauthorized technology transfer. The publication fulfills a legal requirement under Section 1286 of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, which mandates the Department periodically identify institutions engaged in activities that could compromise sensitive American research.
Toc=#(Table of Content)
List of Foreign Academic and Research Institutions
According to the announcement, the newly updated FY25 list formally names 130 academic and research institutions located across China, Russia, and Iran. These institutions have been confirmed to engage in activities that raise the risk of U.S. government-funded research and development being misappropriated by foreign actors.
Officials describe this kind of misappropriation as a direct pathway for adversarial government interference — one that threatens both America's national security interests and the broader integrity of its scientific research enterprise.
Why This Matters for U.S. Research Institutions
The purpose behind publishing this list isn't merely informational. It serves as a formal warning system for the American research community, flagging specific foreign institutions that domestic universities, government-funded labs, and private industry partners should approach with heightened caution.
The Department is explicitly advising researchers, academic institutions, and industry partners to exercise strict caution before entering into any collaboration, funding arrangement, or data-sharing partnership with an institution named on the list.
Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, framed the update as part of a broader effort to protect research funded by American taxpayers. He said the Department remains committed to strengthening its protections around federally funded research and preserving the overall integrity of the country's scientific enterprise.
Part of a Wider Research Security Crackdown
This list update doesn't stand alone. It connects directly to a broader set of policy actions coming out of Under Secretary Michael's office, including recently established stricter requirements designed to shield fundamental research from malign foreign influence and intellectual property theft.
Together, these efforts reflect a growing institutional focus within the Department of War on treating research security as its own distinct category of national security risk — separate from, but closely related to, more traditional concerns like cybersecurity and technology export controls.
Cybersecurity – An Ongoing, Evolving Process
Officials note that this list isn't a one-time publication. The Department has committed to updating it at least annually, or more frequently if emerging intelligence and threat assessments warrant a faster response. This ongoing review process suggests the list will likely continue to grow or shift over time as new institutions are identified and as geopolitical tensions with China, Russia, and Iran continue to shape how the U.S. approaches international academic and research collaboration. The full FY25 Section 1286 list has been made publicly available for researchers and institutions to consult directly.
Source : Department of War Press Release