FRE is a risk assessment process designed to protect U.S. intellectual property and defense capabilities. The evaluation process confirms or denies reported foreign interests and associations while uncovering unreported factors representing potential conflicts of commitment or interest. As it pertains to congressional requirements for the SBIR and STTR Programs, foreign risk evaluation primarily focuses on confirming, denying, or uncovering facts or details of Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence, cybersecurity hygiene, and intellectual property/patent risk of each proposal.