AUECO 2026: Annual Export Controls and Research Security Conference

The 2026 annual Association of University Export Controls Conference, hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, focuses on U.S. export controls and research security for universities and research institutions. The conference will be preceded by a day of workshops. Anticipated topic areas include foundations of U.S. export controls (EAR, ITAR, regulatory scope for academic research institutions), classifying and handling controlled items and data (dual-use technologies, material transfer, equipment controls, recordkeeping), licensing and exemptions (fundamental pathways, campus-use exemptions), research security frameworks (threat assessment, insider risk, foreign influence mitigation, sponsored-research oversight), contracting and collaboration best practices (export-control clauses, sub-awards, international collaborations, technology transfer), operational compliance (policies, training, audits, incident response), and emerging risks (AI, biotech). Attendees can expect plenary sessions from BIS/DDTC, policy panels, export enforcement panels, and counsel panels, alongside concurrent sessions and networking events.