Starting a collaboration

Develop your project proposal with as much technical detail as possible, including key samples, materials, components, equipment, facilities and software.

Assess your project to determine whether any physical goods – or the technology related to them, such as information, research data or knowledge – you want to share are controlled, and if they are, whether there are any codes relating to them.

If you identify any codes in your project assessment

You will need an export licence. There are two main types of licences: Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) or Open General Export Licence (OGEL).

First check if an OGEL is available for your export using the OGEL Checker. For this you will need the control entry code you have identified along with the country where the entity is based (end-user) and the consignee destination if applicable.
Enter this information in the OGEL checker and if an OGEL is available notify the Regulatory Compliance Office of this via our online form who will then register for that OGEL Licence and inform you of any requirements.
If an OGEL is available for your export you will need to ensure that you can meet all the terms and conditions outlined in the OGEL.

If there no OGEL available for your combination of code and destination or you cannot meet all of its’ conditions you will need to apply for a SIEL.
To apply for a SIEL fill in and submit an Export Controls Compliance request (online form) to request anexport licence.
The Government turnaround time for a SIEL to a non-key country is around 60 working days. All other types of licences and destinations may take longer as they are assessed by on a case by case basis.
You can continue high-level talks with your collaborators but do not exchange technical details until you received clearance (confirmation that a licence isn’trequired or that a licence has been granted) from the team.

If you don’t identify any codes in your project assessment

Determine whether any of the entities (organisations, companies or universities) involved in your collaboration or funding) are based in a key country (the Government’s list of countries under current trade sanctions -restrictions implemented to maintain international peace and security, including arms embargoes and other restrictions).

If any of the entities (institutions or organisations) are not based in a key country

There are no further actions required from an export control point of view, however, consider if your collaboration should be assessed by RROG
If you are uncertain how to find codes related to your research, email the RC team for support

If any of the entities (institutions or organisations) are based in a key country

Fill in and submit an Export Controls Compliance request (online form) with the RC Team to assess if an Open Individual Technical Assistance Licence (OITAL) is necessary.
The Government turnaround time for OITAL applications can’t be determined as they are assessed on an individual basis
You can continue high level talks with your collaborators but do not exchange technical details until you received clearance (confirmation that a licence isn’t required or that a licence has been granted) from the team

You still need to undertake due diligence with respect to Export Control Legislation, even if you are not the lead party in a (potential) collaboration. If you are exporting physical goods or technology (data) which is controlled from the UK, then you are liable for that export and you should put in place a licence for that activity if required.

In addition, the Academic Technology Approval (ATAS) Scheme has been expanded so that all researchers, including post-doctoral researchers, visiting researchers and academic staff, will be required to hold an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before applying for a visa to conduct activities on UK soil that could result in the Intangible Transfer of Technology (ITT) to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT) programmes of concern.

Further information on ATAS Scheme and who can help you at UoM can be found at: Export Controls guidance on ATAS.

Please be aware, it is the responsibility of the PI to self-assess the project using the University guidance, that this must be done annually or whenever any aspect of the project changes.

Export Controls guidance on ATAS

Please be aware, it is the responsibility of the PI or researcher to self-assess the project using the University guidance, this must be done annually or whenever any aspect of the project changes.