Espionage alert sees MI5 take an interest in Chinese research collaboration

It's not often that the UK security services get involved in university regulation, but today saw MI5 release an "espionage alert" highlighting the direct link between the China General Technology Research Institution (CGTRI, which sometimes goes by an alias: China Academy of General Technology) and the activities of the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS).

CGTRI funds academic research by UK-linked academics that directly improves MSS' technical capacity for espionage: covering topics like AI, cybersecurity, covert communications, and steganography: MI5 has identified more than 100 academics contributing to projects funded by CGTRI.

The official advice is for universities to immediately review any ongoing or planned collaboration with the organisation, and for academics to ensure that CGTRI is not the ultimate source of funding for research collaborations involving Chinese universities. This being MI5 it would probably wise to take this strong advice very seriously indeed – the circular also points to the National Protective Security Authority's guidance on "trusted research" (first published at Universities UK's 2019 conference).

The unusually public nature of this "espionage alert" has the effect of putting information CGTRI's links to MSS in the public domain. Section 3 of the 2023 National Security Act makes it an offence to "materially assist a foreign intelligence service" where someone ought reasonably to know that their conduct would have this impact. It can now be said that anyone engaged in research supported by CGTRI ought to know links to the MSS.

How this now plays out stands or falls on the quality of information available to universities and the sector. There is no national database of international research collaborations, and even if there were it is very hard to trace the ultimate source of funding for overseas partners. Section 9 of the 2023 Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act provides for an OfS monitoring function for overseas funding where this relates to freedom of speech and academic freedom: this unenacted legislation does not address espionage but one cannot help but suspect that information like this might be helpful right now.

There is always an interest within government and the secret services the potential for collaboration to facilitate espionage, but enforcement and guidance has hitherto happened behind the scenes: a quiet word with senior leaders and research managers. A public announcement like this is exceedingly rare – such that it has been covered by the press ( the Guardian probably has the most useful take ) and will likely feature on front pages and bulletins. It is difficult not to conclude that, for whatever reason, the usual behind-the-scenes methods have not been effective enough this time.

For a sector conscious of the way it is perceived by the public and by policy makers this is far from a good look. Though it is very unlikely that any university would deliberately undertake research on behalf of state security, the fact that there are clearly some examples where this has happened suggests a failing in information gathering and due diligence. We don't, as a nation, who is ultimately funding (and why) significant parts of our research infrastructure and that feels like a hole that needs to be filled quickly.

Security minister Dan Jarvis has written to vice chancellors:

to ensure they support their staff to end all arrangements with this company, preventing further benefit to the Chinese intelligence services and ensuring compliance with the National Security Act.

to ensure they support their staff to end all arrangements with this company, preventing further benefit to the Chinese intelligence services and ensuring compliance with the National Security Act.

While Science and Innovation Minister Chris McDonald said:

as these risks continue to evolve, we're making sure the sector has the advice and support it needs to protect valuable research

as these risks continue to evolve, we're making sure the sector has the advice and support it needs to protect valuable research

The sector has made investments in due diligence and risk assessment processes in recent years, but an announcement as unusual as this suggests that there is still work to be done.