National Science Foundation Conflict of Interest Disclosure

  1. Compliance & Safety
  2. Conflict of Commitment & Interest
  3. Resources for Managing Conflict of Commitment or Interest
  4. National Science Foundation Conflict of Interest Disclosure
  5. National Science Foundation Conflict of Interest Disclosure

NSF COI Requirements for Investigators

The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires that investigators disclose all significant financial interests that are held personally or by a spouse or dependent:

  • That would reasonably appear to be affected by the research or educational activities funded or proposed for funding by NSF.
  • In entities whose financial interests would reasonably appear to be affected by such activities.

This requires anyone responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of research or education activities funded or proposed for funding by the NSF to complete disclosure.

Investigators that have completed the Report of Non-University Activities (RNUA) or the Public Health Service Investigator Financial Interest Disclosure form (PIFID) have already satisfied the NSF COI requirements and need not take further action.

Guidance

Significant Financial Interests to Report

Significant financial interests to report include, but are not limited to:

  • Salary or other payments for services (e.g., consulting fees or honoraria)
  • Equity interest (e.g., stocks, stock options, or other ownership interests)
  • Intellectual property rights (e.g., patents, copyrights, and royalties from such rights)

Financial interests that do not require reporting

Financial interests that do not require reporting include:

  • Salary, royalties, or other remuneration from the applicant organization.
  • Any ownership interests in the organization, if the organization is an applicant under the Small Business Innovation Research Program or Small Business Technology Transfer Program.
  • Income from seminars, lectures, or teaching engagements sponsored by public or non-profit entities.
  • Income from service on advisory committees or review panels for public or nonprofit entities.
  • An equity interest that, when aggregated for the investigator and the investigator’s spouse and dependent children, meets both of the following tests:
    • Does not exceed $10,000 in value as determined through reference to public prices or other reasonable measures of fair market value.
    • Does not represent more than a 5% ownership interest in any single entity.
  • Salary, royalties, or other payments that, when aggregated for the investigator and the investigator’s spouse and dependent children, are not expected to exceed $10,000 during the prior twelve-month period.

Questions? Contact Us

If you have questions about the regulation, reporting requirements, or other policies regarding conflicts of commitment and interest, please contact the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (coi@illinois.edu, 217-333-0034).