Due diligence

The Due Diligence team can help support you by carrying out checks on new funders and partner organisations to identify any issues that may pose a risk to the University and undermine your research.

This includes reviewing the legal status of an organisation, where it is based, the nature of its business and governance, any exposure to sanctions and any negative news or other concerns. 

These checks occur when a new organisation is added to Worktribe. Read more about how to request to work with a new funder or partner organisation.  

Before you start working with a new research organisation, whether it is a funder or partner, it's important to: 

  • consider what interests the funder represents, and whether they conflict with your own ethical values or those of the University.
    • based on University’s climate change commitments, we will not accept funding from fossil fuel companies whose business models do not align with net zero 2050 targets, unless there are exceptional circumstances
    • due to our partnership with Cancer Research UK, we will not accept funding from the tobacco industry
    • partners based in countries under an arms embargo or subject to other sanctions by the UK or US government will require additional consideration around research security
  • be aware of potential interference, or efforts to influence the direction of your work
  • think about how your research might be used, and consider possible mitigations that might be put in place to prevent potential misuse
  • check whether a research partner poses ethical or national security concerns, such as through a relationship with a state or state military, or based on the nature of previous research undertaken
  • be aware of any potential for military use of your research. The UK government has restrictions in place relating to the sharing of military and dual-use academic research with overseas partners. The University has processes in place to help you meet export control requirements

When concerns are escalated 

If significant concerns are identified with an organisation that pose a reputational risk to the University, a project  may be referred to the University Committee on Benefactions and External Legal Affairs (CBELA).  

CBELA will look at the nature of the project, the organisation’s background and any relevant issues of concern. They will then make a decision about whether the funder is appropriate. 

The Due Diligence team supports these submissions from the Research Office to CBELA. They will keep the Head of Department and PI informed about what's happening and the end result. 

It is possible that ongoing monitoring of the funder or collaborator may be considered necessary as a measure to mitigate any risk identified. 

Where any partner or their ultimate owner is included on any UK or US sanctions list, this will be referred to the Finance’s Division Sanctions Triage Group.