Export controls are a series of federal laws and regulations听that, if applicable to your research, will determine how you use and share equipment, materials, software听and technology within your lab.听They can also limit how you collaborate with foreign colleagues.
Research that is "subject to export controls" must generally have a technology control plan to:
As the following links will explain, there are nuances to making the determination as to whether university research is subject to export controls, and different tools to facilitate such research when it is controlled or restricted. Most notably, the Office of Export Controls will strive to preserve certain aspects as "fundamental research" (i.e.听not subject to export controls)听and can assist you, at various stages in the project lifecycle, to accept, conduct and in some cases publish covered or restricted research.