Export Control Information
Sensitive areas of the economy
Subject Area | Detail on what is covered |
Advanced Materials |
Generally, Advanced Materials cover the following:
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Advanced Robotics |
‘Advanced robotics’ also includes the ability to use sensors to carry out sophisticated surveillance and data collection. This does not include simple data capture such as CCTV cameras (or other static devices) but includes robots with the ability to capture high fidelity data from their environment, including those that may be entirely pre-programmed or remotely controlled. This would include reconnaissance activities by drones, satellites, underwater vessels or other forms of mobile robot. |
Artificial Intelligence |
‘Artificial Intelligence’ is defined in the regulations as: “technology enabling the programming or training of a device or software to:
with a view to achieving a specific objective” ‘Cognitive abilities’ means reasoning, perception, communication, learning, planning, problem solving, abstract thinking, decision-making or organisation |
Civil Nuclear |
N/A to Reading |
Communications |
N/A to Reading |
Computing Hardware |
The creation, supply or exploitation of intellectual property of any of the following products or functions:
Computer processing units include field central processing units (CPUs), programmable gate arrays (FPGA), microcontrollers, system on chips, graphics processor units and specialist processors for Artificial Intelligence applications |
Critical Suppliers to Government |
N/A to Reading |
Cryptographic Authentication |
Where the technical method depends on cryptography, rather than a non-technical method such as checking the signature of an individual or that their face matches their driving licence, it is deemed to be a sensitive technology. Organisation that provide cryptographic authentication operate across much of the economy, providing software and hardware tools for businesses to enable a number of key capabilities, including:
These functions can be enablers of further security steps, such as management of access, and help to prevent unauthorised access to data, network resources, personal information, physical spaces, intellectual property and other assets. This might include use or ownership of a device containing a cryptographic key. It can include determining the identity or some attributes of the device owner asserted by an authoritative third party or recognising the user as a repeat visitor or as the owner of a previously established account. |
Data Infrastructure |
Data infrastructure is physical or virtualised infrastructure used for storing, processing or transmitting data in digital form or infrastructure that is provided for peering, interconnection or exchange of digital data |
Defence |
If this is related to national defence capability or work done on MoD/DSTL funded work |
Energy |
Supply of
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Military and Dual-Use |
Falls under export control regulations |
Quantum Technologies |
Development and production of Quantum technologies. These are technologies that employ the mathematical theory of quantum mechanics to describe the physical world and process information in new ways. Quantum technologies cover the following technology groups:
|
Satellite and Space Technologies |
Operating, developing, producing, creating, or using any of these activities:
|
Suppliers to the Emergency Services |
N/A to Reading |
Synthetic Biology |
Synthetic biology is defined in the regulations as the process of applying engineering principles to biology to design, redesign or make biological components or systems that do not exist in the natural world. Synthetic biology includes but is not limited to the following:
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Transport |
N/A to Reading |
Virus and pathogen research including vaccine development |
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Further information, including detailed definitions of each area, can be found here in the National Security and Investment Act Guidance.
Red flags list
If your technology is on the list below, its export may be controlled:
- Technology which could support activities in facilities which house weapons technology or delivery programmes (including hardened underground facilities and hermetically sealed buildings).
- Hydrophones or sonar equipment.
- Chemicals with toxic properties can cause serious injury or death. Could your research be applied for this purpose?
- Fissile materials or radioactive materials or equipment for their detection or handling.
- Materials characterisation equipment.
- Opto-electronics (lasers).
- Ocean bottom survey equipment.
- Materials production techniques.
- Carbon fibre with high tensile properties, high nickel alloys, high grade aluminium, vacuum systems, propellants etc.
- High grade radio-active material – could it be emitted into the atmosphere and contaminate the environment?
- Ancillaries and support equipment at some facilities, such as those which house uranium enrichment centrifuges or nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities, can also be of concern even if the technology is itself ubiquitous.
- Electromagnetic absorption.
- Unmanned equipment (even if used by you only for atmospheric research).
- Uranium enrichment for non-civil nuclear energy.
- Autonomous vehicles.
- Ground penetrating radar.
- Stealth technology.
Definitions
Basic Scientific research: This is experimental or theoretical work. It is undertaken to solely obtain new knowledge of the fundamental principles of phenomena or observable facts. It is not directed towards a specific practical aim or goal
Public domain: This is technology or software freely available without restrictions on its further dissemination