Why is Research, Technology, and Economic Security Important?
For DOE’s portfolio, RTES risks come in many forms. In addition to risks associated with foreign ownership, control, and influence, there are also risks related to project personnel with concerning foreign connections and affiliations (e.g., Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs); technology risks (e.g., does the project involve critical and emerging technologies of concern); risk of intellectual property theft; physical threats (e.g., access to sensitive grid information that expose vulnerabilities that could be exploited by bad actors); procurement of equipment that may have embedded surveillance technology; undisclosed project collaborations with foreign entities or individuals; and supply chain risks.
Accordingly, it is critical that DOE has appropriate tools to address these different forms of RTES risks. As it does so, DOE will strive for consistency with interagency policies, procedures, and practices to the extent practicable.
DOE Principles for Evaluating RTES Risk
1. Onshore, Reshore, and Reassert U.S. Leadership in Manufacturing and Deployment of Critical and Emerging Energy Technologies: The United States must strengthen its competitive edge by making critical domestic investments, especially in sectors that are vital to U.S. national security and economic interests; and protecting and building the resiliency of those investments. Bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. will necessarily involve interaction with foreign entities, but doing so smartly and with eyes-wide-open will ultimately benefit the U.S. economy by developing domestic expertise and building resilient supply chains.
2. Bolster Supply Chain Security: DOE will support projects that build diverse and resilient energy supply chains with allies, reducing reliance on countries of concern and preventing exploitation of these chains.
3. Make Risk-Based Investment Decisions: DOE will balance intellectual property protection, supply chain independence, and national security threats when making clean energy investments, while also promoting competitiveness and scientific openness.
4. Protect the Taxpayer: DOE will not fund state-owned enterprises from countries of concern. Partnerships with entities tied to such countries will only proceed if a significant net-benefit to the U.S. is determined and risks can be sufficiently mitigated.
5. Ensure Transparency: Applicants for DOE support must fully disclose foreign connections, especially those involving countries of concern, including intellectual property, equipment, and material sources. DOE's policies will also reflect this transparency.
How DOE Addresses RTES Concerns
Critical and emerging technologies are increasingly at the center of global competition, providing the foundational research and developments that underpin future industries and drive economic growth. These critical and emerging technologies—which are the focus of many DOE programs—will alter economic, political and security dynamics and directly affect national security and competitiveness. These knowledge-based industries rely on collaborations and sharing of data, research and human capital across national borders. The open exchange of scientific and technical information has long been a fundamental tenet of science and an important feature of academic and federally funded research in the United States. While this has been a strength of the United States, it creates vulnerabilities in the U.S. innovation base as some countries use these collaborations and exchanges to support the expropriation of existing know-how and talent. This often includes the acquisition of technology and technological knowhow through legal, illegal and extralegal means. DOE’s unique role, as a funder of basic research, applied research and development (R&D) and demonstration and deployment (D&D) stage, for-profit entities, and technology that impacts critical U.S. energy infrastructure, necessitates an expanded research, technology and economic security approach for the DOE portfolio.
DOE’s RTES Office is responsible for conducting due diligence reviews and risk assessments for DOE’s financial assistance and loan agreements, developing mitigation strategies, building RTES awareness within DOE, and engaging with external stakeholders on RTES matters. RTES due diligence reviews are conducted prior to DOE decisions to invest in a project or prior to new individuals or organizations being added to an existing project. DOE’s concern is protecting against the actions of certain nation states, and the Department is committed to addressing those issues without alienating or unfairly targeting our international colleagues and peers.
DOE’s RTES Policy Working Group is responsible for developing and reviewing RTES policy for financial assistance, DOE National Laboratories, acquisition, and Federal and contractor staff. In developing RTES policy, DOE coordinates with interagency partners to minimize burden to the research community and harmonize requirements with other federal funding agencies to the greatest extent practicable.
Highlights
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The Office of Research, Technology, and Economic Security supports the Department’s programs in due diligence reviews and risk mitigation.December 18, 2025
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January 18, 2024
