Ensuring Responsible International Collaboration

Contents:

↳ 1. Checklist for responsible international collaboration

↳ 2. Export control

↳ 3. Use of equipment when travelling to risk areas

↳ 4. Procedure for international recruitment

↳ 5. Special considerations for international project collaboration in education and research

Responsible: Department of Research Administration and Internationalisation; Published: 20.06.2025. Last updated: 20.06.2025

Kristiania's academic staff should reflect on the following points from the start of planning international collaboration and while activities are ongoing:

• Am I working on a sensitive topic or within a field that may be subject to special regulations related to export control or national security?
• Do I use or need special infrastructure and equipment that may be of interest to unwanted actors or powers?
• Have I assessed existing risks in sharing information with my collaboration partners? Have I developed a data management plan?
• Am I travelling outside the EU/EEA area? Do I need extra security measures?
• Is the collaboration anchored in my school through a collaboration agreement?
• Is the distribution of intellectual property rights in international collaboration clarified?
• Are any plans for publication and authorship clarified?
• Are other dissemination measures agreed upon?

Contact your leader if the plan for international collaboration requires special considerations.

For new exchange partners, we use the following list for a security check:

1. Check UDI risk countries / PST / E-service / NSM (National Security Authority)
2. NOKUT/HK-Dir country database
3. References in the sector - e.g., NTNU's partner list
4. Accreditation and recognition in their own country (WHED database)
5. Practical matters: level/cycle (BA/MA/PhD), English courses, semester division

What is export control?

Export control is a set of legal and regulatory restrictions on the ability to export certain types of strategic goods, services, and technology abroad. Restrictions are law-based and apply to exports to all countries. To export, one must apply for a license from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD).

Violation of export control regulations can ultimately be illegal and punishable. Kristiania's researchers must familiarise themselves with the export control regulations. Read more here.

Why are there rules for export control?

1. To fulfil our international obligations
2. To safeguard Norwegian security and defence policy
3. To prevent exports from contributing to:
   1. Instability and conflict where it is exported to
   2. Being used to oppress the local population
   3. Enabling terrorist acts
   4. The use and development of weapons of mass destruction

What types of strategic goods, services, and technology are subject to export control?

In addition to restrictions on exports to sanctioned countries such as Iran (Iran regulations) or Russia (Sanctions regulations related to Ukraine), there are statutory lists and conditions that limit export control. Read more on HK-Dir's pages.

Strategic goods refer to weapons, ammunition, and other military material and civilian goods that may have military utility or be used in terrorist acts, as well as associated technology and services. The term technology also includes intangible technology, including knowledge.

Goods, services, and technology have been classified into three lists:

• List I concerns defence material and includes weapons, ammunition, and other military equipment.
• List II concerns dual-use goods, which are primarily civilian goods but also have military applications.
• List III concerns other critical goods and technologies, considered disruptive or emerging technologies. This includes, for example, goods and technologies for the production of advanced computer chips and quantum computers. The list will be expanded in the future.

In addition to what is on the lists, there may be restrictions on the export of any goods, technology, and services ("catch all" clause) that:

1. Can be used in connection with the development, production, handling, operation, maintenance, storage, detection, identification, or dissemination of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. This also applies to the development, production, maintenance, or storage of missiles that can deliver such weapons.
2. Are for military use in areas subject to an arms embargo adopted by the UN Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter or other measures regimes Norway has joined.
3. Are for military use in areas where there is war, war threatens, or to countries where there is civil war.
4. Directly serve to develop a state's military capability in a way that is not compatible with significant Norwegian security and defence interests.

A simple summary of sensitive fields:

• Life sciences, including biotechnology
• Biochemistry
• Chemistry, including chemical process technology
• Physics, including nuclear physics
• Aviation and aviation technology
• Mechanical engineering
• Materials technology
• Cybernetics
• Medicine/veterinary science
• Mathematics

EXEMPT: Basic research (TRL1 and TRL2. May also apply to TRL3 and TRL4) or what is already publicly available.

What responsibility does Kristiania have regarding export control?

Kristiania must ensure that employees have basic knowledge of the export control regulations. The export control regulations and associated lists trigger a license requirement for the transfer of certain types of knowledge abroad and to foreigners in Norway. Knowledge transfer to a foreign national in Norway is considered a transfer to the country the person is a citizen of. Kristiania is responsible for submitting and following up license applications to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD). UD assesses license applications and decides whether a license should be granted.

Kristiania is responsible for assessing the sensitivity of our knowledge and technology and being aware of when the export control regulations apply, including:

• Research collaboration involving foreign parties and/or foreign participants.
• Employment
• Admission of PhD candidates
• Admission of master's students
• Guest stays
• One-to-one collaboration
• Publication
• Dissemination of research results

What responsibility do I have as a researcher regarding export control?

1. Stay updated on export control regulations.
2. Assess whether I am working with goods, services, or technology that may be subject to export control regulations (lists I, II, and III).
3. Provide necessary information to my leader in the school and keep them updated.
4. Apply for an export license where it is legally required.
5. Report to my leader if there is a violation of the export control law.

Where can I find more information about export control?

Export control of knowledge transfer and international sanctions.

Sikresiden.no has created an e-learning course on export control.

Sources and resources:

• Law on control of the export of strategic goods, services, and technology (Export Control Act). See also Export Control Regulations.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Guidelines for control of knowledge transfer.
• EU compliance guidance for research involving dual-use items.

Kristiania has developed a checklist for the use of IT equipment when travelling abroad. It describes what you need to be aware of before, during, and after the trip. NO version. EN version.

When travelling to high-risk countries, the employee should always contact IT security in advance.

Travel advice from national authorities:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel advice

General advice from Sikresiden.no:

• Before you travel
• When something happens: On travel / sikresiden.no'

Travel advice from the Police Security Service:

• Safe travels / Sikker reise

ICT advice from the National Security Authority:

• Measures for ICT security on travel - National Security Authority
• 13 tips for better security on mobile devices - National Security Authority
• Kristiania's emergency routine for employee travel abroad

Kristiania has its own guidelines for international recruitment.

Kristiania conducts background checks in situations where there is a legitimate basis. Kristiania has processes to assist newly recruited international employees to Norway as part of the introduction process. This includes help with obtaining an ID number, tax card, and other necessary documents, as well as practical advice.

When developing an international collaborative project, you will find information here. When participating in a research or teaching project in collaboration with other institutions (national and international), all activities must be institutionally anchored through a binding collaboration agreement for the project.

Contact your school (vice-dean for research or teaching) to develop an agreement. 

For research projects: See here for more information on some types of agreements and legal advice.

For international educational collaboration: Contact the international team: international@kristiania.no.

Safeguard information security and privacy

Kristiania's researchers must protect the information processed and the values the information represents. This applies to both personal data, information about digital/physical infrastructure, and other types of information that are not public.

Kristiania has guidelines for secure data storage, for handling personal data in research. and for handling personal data generally.

Report possible violations of regulations

Click here to report concerns about, e.g., IT security or possible breaches of research integrity. Deviations in the handling of person data should be reported to:

personvernombud@kristiania.no or behandlingsansvarlig@kristiania.no

More information pages from HK-dir

• Guidelines and tools for responsible international knowledge collaboration.
• Guidelines for responsible international collaboration.

Contact International Team

Who can you contact when you have questions about internationalisation and staff mobility?

Contact persons for internationalisation

• Andrea Sydvold (Team Leader, Senior Advisor): Contact for School of Economics, Innovation and Technology (SEIT)
• Carl Joakim Gagnon (Senior Advisor): Contact for School of Arts, Design and Media (SADM). Coordinator for Staff Mobility.
• Karoline Niklasson (Senior Advisor): Contact for School of Health Sciences (SHS). Coordinator for Incoming Exchange.
• Axel Eikner (Senior Advisor): Contact for School of Communication, Leadership and Marketing. Coordinator for Vocational School.
• Barbra Noodt (PhD, Department Director): Department of Research Administration and Internationalisation. 

For questions about research support and funding of research projects, contact research support here.